SALT LAKE CITY — On July 1, 2026, statutory amendments enacted through Senate Bill 43 during the 2026 General Legislative Session will take effect, which clarifies the authority, purpose, and duties of the School and Institutional Trust Beneficiaries’ Advocacy Office (Advocacy Office) to represent the Trust beneficiaries’ rights and interests. This implementation follows a rigorous process including a 2024 legislative audit, study group analysis, interim committee review, and agency planning.
At statehood, Congress designated lands to be held in trust to generate revenue for 12 public institutions, known as trust beneficiaries. These lands and financial assets are managed by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (TLA) and the School and Institutional Trust Funds Office (SITFO) to ensure long-term financial support for beneficiaries. Recognizing that many beneficiaries lack the resources to monitor and advocate their trust interests, the Utah Legislature established the Advocacy Office in 2018 as an important check and balance in preserving the integrity and impact of the endowment.
The path to SB 43 began when a legislative study group was convened in response to a 2024 audit by the Office of the Legislative Auditor General (OLAG). The study group conducted a comprehensive analysis of trust governance and best practices, engaging with representatives from each beneficiary institution, legal advisors, and stakeholders from across the state. This collaborative effort resulted in policy recommendations to address the audit findings and culminated in amendments to Utah Code § 53D-2 sponsored by Senator Derrin Owens and Representative Jefferson Burton.
“The study group we chaired was a robust and extensive process, and we express our thanks to experts from many organizations who contributed their time and knowledge,” said Senator Derrin Owens, the bill’s sponsor. “We fully engaged stakeholders to carefully address audit recommendations and support the needs of the beneficiaries.”
Key Changes Effective July 1st
- Clarifies the authority and purpose of the Advocacy Office as an agent to represent, advise, safeguard, and advocate for current and future trust beneficiaries.
- Centrally lists trust beneficiaries, assigns authorized liaisons, and articulates their rights and interests.
- Creates accountability for distributions to institutional beneficiaries by requiring spending plans, accounting standards, and reporting.
- Refines the director’s role and responsibilities including distribution monitoring, dispute resolution, notification, protocols and training development, and accountability.
- Strengthens trust governance by clarifying interactions in the Trust System with intentional checks and balances.
“These changes safeguard trust integrity and ensure the Advocacy Office remains a transparent, accountable, and independent voice for beneficiaries,” said Advocacy Office Director Liz Mumford. “The new statutory framework strengthens the office’s role as an authorized agent for the trust beneficiaries, helping ensure their rights and interests within Utah’s trust system are fully protected.”