Utah Legislature: Bill calls for colleges to disclose foreign donations

SALT LAKE CITY — A House committee passed a proposal that will tighten a law that requires Utah colleges and universities to report large donations from foreign groups.

Under the bill, proposed by Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, universities and colleges will have to disclose foreign donations of $50,000 or more. Federal law currently requires higher education officials to disclose gifts of $250,000 or more.

The new law would also mandate the disclosure of any gift with conditions attached, regardless of amount.

Wimmer said the bill is designed to track financial influence in Utah schools, but Democrats criticized the bill for only targeting foreign donations.

Rep. Jennifer Seelig, D-Salt Lake, voted for the measure but called it "xenophobic."

— Josh Smith