SB 165: Economic Mobility Initiative - Utah

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly simplified by removing detailed grant application rules, specific budget caps, and complex eligibility criteria for communities. The version replaced the competitive grant program with a streamlined designation of a technical assistance provider to support partnerships, while also changing the definition of a 'backbone organization' to exclude government entities.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a structured grant-making program with specific funding limits and application requirements to a broader support framework where the technical assistance provider facilitates partnerships without detailed statutory mandates on grant amounts or specific community eligibility thresholds.

FISCAL

Removed specific grant budget caps ($300,000 for planning, $2,500,000 for implementation) and the requirement that 20% of funds go to rural/frontier/tribal areas.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated detailed requirements for grant applications, including specific criteria for community eligibility, required work plans, and mandatory signatures from local officials.

Removed the requirement for a formal Memorandum of Understanding signed by a majority of local governing board members and superintendents.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'backbone organization' to remove 'government' entities, and redefined 'eligible community' to use a simpler list of criteria without specific sub-group disparity thresholds.

SCOPE

Replaced the two-track grant system (planning and implementation) with a general mandate for the technical assistance provider to support eligible communities in establishing partnerships.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title from 'Economic Mobility Initiative' to 'Economic Mobility Initiative' (no change) but altered the section header text and removed the specific 'House Sponsor' line in the second version's context.

TIMELINE

Added Section 2 establishing a specific effective date of May 6, 2026.

Amended 2/25/2026 10:02:810 → Substitute #1 · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill text remains substantively identical between the two versions, retaining the same program name, definitions, grant criteria, and funding limits. The only change is a minor formatting correction in the header where the bill title was accidentally split across two lines in the earlier version. Additionally, the timestamp at the bottom of the document was updated to reflect the new version's creation time.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a formatting error in the header where the bill title 'Raising Expectations through Accountability, Community, and Hope Initiative' was incorrectly split into two lines.

Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 10:02:810 → Amended 2/25/2026 10:02:810 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to establish a new 'Raising Expectations' initiative focused on economic mobility, replacing the previous version. The new text defines specific community indicators, creates two distinct grant tracks for planning and implementation, and sets strict eligibility criteria for rural and high-need communities. It also mandates that implementation grants not exceed $2.5 million annually and requires a minimum of 20% of funds to go to rural, frontier, or tribal areas.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a generic legislative excerpt to a comprehensive, standalone statute establishing a specific statewide program with defined goals, grant structures, and reporting requirements.

SCOPE

Established a new program called 'Raising Expectations through Accountability, Community, and Hope' to support community-based partnerships.

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for key terms like 'backbone organization,' 'community indicators,' and 'mobility action plan.'

FISCAL

Created two specific grant tracks: partnership development/planning grants (up to $300,000) and implementation grants (up to $2.5 million annually).

ELIGIBILITY

Set specific eligibility criteria requiring communities to have low population density, low graduation rates, or significant disparities in community indicators.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that at least 20% of implementation grant funds be directed to rural, frontier, or tribal communities.

TECHNICAL

Updated data sharing requirements to include standardized formats and reporting schedules alongside privacy protections.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the bill to May 6, 2026.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 10:02:810 · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify data sharing requirements, specifically mandating that agencies providing data must have a written agreement in place to ensure privacy and proper use of the information.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for a written agreement between data-providing agencies and the office to govern data sharing, compliance with privacy laws, and the sole use of data for authorized purposes.

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was significantly simplified by removing a complex competitive grant program for community planning and replacing it with a streamlined approach where the state designates a single technical assistance provider to support eligible communities. This change shifts the focus from funding specific planning grants to providing ongoing technical assistance and fundraising support for partnerships that already meet specific eligibility criteria.

Scope change

The scope changed from a two-track grant program (planning and implementation) to a single support model where the technical assistance provider helps eligible communities develop and execute their own mobility action plans.

FISCAL

Removed the specific grant tracks for 'partnership development and planning' and 'implementation,' eliminating the requirement for communities to apply for separate planning grants.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the selection process for the technical assistance provider from a competitive procurement to a designation by the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'eligible community' that combines the previous planning grant criteria into a single list of qualifying conditions.

REQUIREMENT

Removed detailed requirements for partnership governance, specific MOU signatories (like mayors and superintendents), and strict budget caps for implementation grants.

Added a requirement for the technical assistance provider to raise private philanthropic funding to support partnership activities.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of May 6, 2026, and updated the document timestamp from February to March 2026.

Economic Mobility Initiative

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