USU 2026 Legislative Priorities
Utah State University’s 2026 legislative priorities focus on targeted investments that address critical statewide needs and build on existing institutional strengths. These requests support expanded research capacity, modernized infrastructure and coordinated education and outreach to benefit Utah’s communities, workforce, and economy.
Utah Water Network
Utah’s water challenges threaten the state’s economic, ecological, and social prosperity, and the need for practical, research-informed solutions continues to grow. The Utah Water Network will strengthen coordination across USU's and the state's water-related research, education, and outreach programs to better anticipate and respond to water needs statewide.
USU is requesting $2,000,000 in ongoing funds to support the addition of eight new solutions- and community-focused faculty positions in water and air-related disciplines. These positions will expand the university’s capacity to address water challenges through coordinated research, education, and outreach.
Learn more about the Utah Water Network
Historic Building Renovation Project
Utah State University proposes renovating the historic Animal Science building on the Logan campus to provide modern learning and research space that supports interdisciplinary teaching, an expanded mathematics and statistics tutoring center, and a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing lab for both teaching and research.
The total project cost is $46,584,700. Utah State University will contribute an estimated $27,082,338 from its dedicated account and is requesting a one-time legislative appropriation of $19,502,362, along with $282,800 in ongoing funding for operations and maintenance. This investment will preserve a historic campus building while expanding capacity for high-demand academic programs and workforce preparation. This is the only degree-granting institution building project approved by the Utah Board of Higher Education to pursue legislative funding in 2026.