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Concurrent Resolution on State Innovation for Transition from Government Benefits to Self-reliance
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Chris H. Wilson
House Sponsor: Tyler Clancy
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This resolution urges the federal government to give more flexibility and autonomy to
states to allow for greater innovation and experimentation to help families who receive
government benefits more successfully transition off of welfare programs and into work-based
self-reliance.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
articulates the strength of Utah's economy and nation-leading upward mobility;
establishes Utah's track record as an innovative leader already showcasing the successes
and advantages of state-driven approaches to work and welfare;
identifies evidence of families in Utah who still struggle to fully realize the American
Dream due to perceived or actual disincentives in the social safety net in the form of the
"benefits cliff" and "benefits plateau"; and
urges the federal government to increase flexibility and autonomy to allow states the
ability to innovate through experiments and pilots to better transition families off of
federally funded safety net programs and into work-based self-reliance.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
WHEREAS, according to the Archbridge Institute, Utah ranks first among all states as
having the best upward social mobility in the nation;
WHEREAS, WalletHub consistently ranks Utah's economy as among the best in the nation;
WHEREAS, Utah's economic strength and social capital foster an environment of
opportunity that benefits families striving to escape poverty;
WHEREAS, Utah's uniquely successful approach of integrated workforce and welfare
programs has proven effective and prompted other states to petition Congress for the flexibility
to replicate Utah's model;
WHEREAS, the state of Utah has made concerted and significant efforts to identify and
address instances of chronic or intergenerational poverty that still occur among Utah's citizens;
WHEREAS, Utah's culture of continuous improvement has positioned Utah as a national
leader in workforce and welfare policies that strengthen upward mobility for impoverished
families;
WHEREAS, independent research from Sutherland Institute identifies evidence of families
receiving public assistance feeling disincentivized from pursuing or accepting opportunities to
increase their earned income and improve their financial situation;
WHEREAS, this research finds that 77% of respondents to a statewide survey of public
assistance recipients report concern that earning additional income would result in a loss of
benefits that would worsen their family's financial situation;
WHEREAS, this research further finds that 62% of respondents report feeling stuck in a
low-income job due to the belief that increased income would cause loss of benefits that would
not be worth the additional income;
WHEREAS, this research further finds that 43% of respondents report having intentionally
limited their earned income due to fear of triggering a "benefits cliff" or "benefits plateau";
WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta defines this phenomenon as a wage
increase that "may result in a family being financially worse off (a benefits cliff) or no better
off (a benefits plateau) than before the wage increase";
WHEREAS, for families who strive to improve their economic conditions, benefits cliffs,
benefits plateaus, and other disincentive effects have the potential to trap families in poverty
by hindering workforce participation and disincentivizing financial stability;
WHEREAS, some families participating in multiple social safety net programs may face
confusion about differing eligibility rules and phaseouts, making financial planning more
challenging;
WHEREAS, the state of Utah is committed to finding innovative solutions to any
disincentive effects to work, family formation, economic independence, or other opportunities
that may be present in the social safety net; and
WHEREAS, due to federal restrictions, states have limited authority to experiment with
federally funded social safety net programs for the purpose of finding innovative reforms that
can address benefits cliffs, benefits plateaus, perception gaps, or other obstacles to upward
mobility experienced by families receiving public assistance:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
Governor concurring therein, urges the President of the United States and Congress to grant
additional flexibility and autonomy to states to experiment with innovative pilot programs and
other reforms to improve social safety net programs by addressing any existing work
disincentives in a way that protects budget neutrality, ensures fiscal responsibility, and seeks
better outcomes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the President
and Congress to expedite waiver approvals for states pursuing innovative pilot programs or
other reforms to the social safety net.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the President
and Congress to pursue additional flexibility to the states in the form of block grants for a
wider array of existing social safety net programs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the President
and Congress to streamline and consolidate reporting requirements from the states to the
federal government to save taxpayer dollars and yield efficiencies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor call upon the
President and Congress to embrace the principles of federalism to further empower states to be
the laboratories of democracy and drive innovative reforms and improvements to our nation's
social safety net.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the clerk of the Utah House of Representatives shall
distribute copies of this resolution to Utah's congressional delegation.
1-20-26 2:37 PM