University of Utah Research Park Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/1453
Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

ID: L000577

Follow the money

The bill

University of Utah Research Park Act

S. 1453, 119th Congress — read as touching Real Estate.

The sponsor

Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$179,700 raised

20 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 337.

February 10, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative legerdemain, courtesy of the esteemed Senators Lee and Curtis. Let's dissect this "University of Utah Research Park Act" and see what's really festering beneath the surface.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** Ah, the stated purpose is to confirm the use of certain non-Federal land in Salt Lake City for public purposes, specifically as a University research park. How noble. But don't be fooled; this bill is merely a Trojan horse for something far more sinister.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill confirms the University of Utah's use of approximately 593.54 acres of land, which was originally conveyed under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926. Oh, but there's a catch – this confirmation comes with no strings attached, effectively granting the university carte blanche to develop the land as they see fit, including student housing and a transit hub.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The University of Utah, naturally, is the primary beneficiary of this bill. But let's not forget the real stakeholders: the developers, contractors, and other special interest groups who will be lining their pockets with taxpayer dollars. And, of course, the good people of Salt Lake City, who will be left to deal with the consequences of unchecked development.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "land grab" politics, where public land is being handed over to private interests under the guise of "public purposes." The real disease here is crony capitalism, where politicians and their cronies reap the benefits while the public is left with the bill. Expect increased development, gentrification, and environmental degradation – all in the name of "progress."

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of "Developer's Disease," characterized by an insatiable appetite for public land and resources, coupled with a complete disregard for the public interest.

Prognosis: The patient (the University of Utah Research Park) will likely thrive, but at the expense of the surrounding community. Expect symptoms to worsen over time, including increased traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and displacement of long-time residents.

Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism and scrutiny is in order. Voters should demand transparency and accountability from their elected officials, rather than blindly swallowing this bill's dubious "public purposes" justification. Alas, I fear it may be too late; the disease has already taken hold, and only time will tell how much damage it will inflict on the people of Salt Lake City.

Related Topics

Public Lands & Natural Resources
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$179,700
17 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$179,700

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
METZGER, WILLIAM
2 transactions
$17,400
2
RICHARDSON, CHERYL
2 transactions
$17,400
3
DONADIO, RICHARD
2 transactions
$17,400
4
MACRICOSTAS, GEORGE
1 transaction
$13,200
5
PFAUTCH, ROY
1 transaction
$9,900
6
NICOLAISEN, JAMES E
1 transaction
$8,700
7
S., TINA
1 transaction
$8,700
8
DE CARLI, JAMES
1 transaction
$8,700
9
EDWARDS, ZELLA
1 transaction
$8,700
10
ZALL, MARGIE
1 transaction
$8,700
11
PLEW, JEAN
1 transaction
$8,700
12
JONES, MELBERTA
1 transaction
$8,700
13
YAVELAK, MARY
1 transaction
$8,700
14
BARNHILL, JANIS
1 transaction
$8,700
15
SCULLY, JOSEPH
1 transaction
$8,700
16
DOWNING, DORRIS
1 transaction
$8,700
17
DIDGET, LAUREL
1 transaction
$8,700

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]

ID: C001114

Top Contributors

10

1
KELLER INVESTMENTS PROPERTIES
OrganizationCENTERVILLE, UT
$29,800
Dec 31, 2023
2
SUQUAMISH INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationSUQUAMISH, WA
$1,000
Aug 14, 2024
3
TENNIS & SUN LC
OrganizationSALT LAKE CITY, UT
$1,000
Jun 10, 2024
4
BGR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$1,000
Mar 25, 2024
5
FUGAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES INC
OrganizationSALT LAKE CITY, UT
$1,000
Sep 13, 2023
6
STEEL, SHAWN
STEEL & EISNER, LLPATTORNEY
IndividualSURFSIDE, CA
$10,000
Mar 25, 2024
7
STEEL, SHAWN
STEEL & EISNER, LLPATTORNEY
IndividualSURFSIDE, CA
$10,000
Mar 25, 2024
8
BAKER, PAUL
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualTUCSON, AZ
$6,600
Jun 5, 2024
9
BAKER, PAUL
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualTUCSON, AZ
$6,600
Jun 5, 2024
10
BERKLEY, WILLIAM
WRBCCHAIRMAN
IndividualKEY LARGO, FL
$6,600
Jun 7, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 40 nodes and 23 connections (53 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $211,500

Top Donors - Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount

17 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.

  • +Real Estateconfidence 0.80

    Section 2 confirms the use of certain non-Federal land in Salt Lake City, Utah, for public purposes, including development of a University research park and related university purposes such as student housing, which could benefit real estate developers and property managers.

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