Higher Education Student Housing Study

HB 520 requires the governor's office to complete a feasibility study examining how student housing near colleges affects home ownership in surrounding communities, including costs and impacts. The study must propose state or institutional actions to address these effects, such as creating dedicated housing on public land or partnering with developers. An employee with housing expertise, working with the higher education commissioner, must report findings to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee by November 1, 2026. This bill directly affects communities near Utah's colleges and universities by initiating a process to assess housing impacts and potential solutions. The study has no funding appropriation and focuses solely on analysis, not immediate policy changes.