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- Utah voters approved Amendment B, raising school fund distributions from 4% to 5%.
- This change will increase annual distributions for schools by approximately $14 million.
- The amendment supports schools, hospitals, universities and other state institutions without taxpayer cost.
SALT LAKE CITY — Election Day saw Utahns vote in favor of Amendment B, raising the cap on annual distributions from the $3.3 billion State School Fund endowment from 4% to 5%.
As of Wednesday morning, 70% of voters whose ballots have been counted have voted for Amendment B.
While Utah's schools will see an increase in distributions from 4% to 5% of the endowment beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, which would increase annual distributions by approximately 13%, or $14 million, Amendment B also secures more funds for other state entities.
"Utahns approving Amendment B helps ensure the State School Fund benefits Utah's K-12 students both today and in the future," Utah Senate President Stuart Adams said in a statement. "Additionally, this amendment not only strengthens our public schools but also supports our state hospitals, universities and the future of teaching."
While the language of the constitutional amendment specifically addressed the public schools beneficiary, all beneficiaries designated at statehood are set to receive additional distributions from their respective trust endowments and include:
- Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
- University of Utah and its College of Mines and Earth Sciences
- Utah State University
- Colleges of education at the University of Utah, Utah Tech University, Southern Utah University, Utah State University, Utah Valley University and Weber State University
- Miners Hospital at the University of Utah Health
- Utah State Hospital
- Juvenile Justice and Youth Services
- State Reservoirs, administered by the Utah Division of Water Resources
Entities like the Utah Division of Water Resources say the increase in annual distributions is welcome and that it plans to "carefully utilize these distributions."
"They help fund water infrastructure projects, including reservoir projects, fund repairs of existing and aging infrastructure and improve water efficiency across the state," said Candice Hasenyager, director of the Utah Division of Water Resources.
According to a release from the Utah Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office, raising the cap on distributions costs taxpayers nothing; it simply increases the cap on the endowment.
"Through careful analysis, (the School and Institutional Trust Funds Office) has determined the Permanent State School Fund endowment is currently favoring future generations more so than our current generation of students," said Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Director Kim Christy. "Increasing the cap to 5% provides appropriate balance and will provide more money for today's students, while still allowing for growth and protecting this endowment for future generations."
