Gov. Cox signs executive order to establish new council focused on Utah’s future and ‘quality of life’

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — On May 28, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed an executive order to establish the BUILD Coordinating Council — a new council aimed at helping the state of Utah plan for the future.

BUILD is an acronym for “Blueprint for Utah’s Infrastructure, Land, and Development,” according to Cox’s executive order. According to the governor’s office, the council will “bring state agencies together” to help the Beehive State work toward meeting demands for housing, energy, air quality, and more.

“This council will help us combine efforts and make better decisions to maintain the quality of life that makes Utah exceptional,” Cox said.

The executive order establishes the council and describes some of its duties. It describes Utah as “one of the fastest growing states in the nation” and says that means there is an increasing demand for resources in the state.

The council will work to “advance shared statewide goals” and “facilitate greater coordination” in the state, as well as work to improve or maintain the quality of life for current and future Utahns.

The members of the BUILD council will meet quarterly to establish goals, review changes occurring in the state, review and draft long-range plans, endorse final plans, and produce annual reports for the governor and lieutenant governor, among other duties.

“Chaired by the State Planning Coordinator, the council will include senior advisors and executive directors from key state agencies such as transportation, natural resources, environmental quality, health and human services, agriculture and food and others,” the governor’s office said.

Representatives from various other entities will also be invited to participate. The executive order does not apply to the legislative and judicial branches of the government, higher education institutions, independent entities, and a handful of other offices.

The governor’s office said the establishment of the BUILD Coordinating Council “builds on the intent” of a 2024 concurrent resolution to recognize the “importance of cross-issue growth impacts.”

The executive order went into effect on May 28.