If nothing else, the success of House Bill 318, sponsored by Rep. Craig Buttars, R-Lewiston, in the House Economic Development Committee shows the governor's staff has gained political savvy in the weeks since Huntsman's election. In January, newly elected Huntsman's top advisers dismayed many in government and the business community when they abruptly fired nearly all the state's economic development leadership without consulting the citizen board that controls the department.

To finish the reorganization, which will move the most vital parts of economic development into the governor's office, will require lawmakers' consent.

Jerold Oldroyd, a member of the Board of Business and Economic Development, said the governor's advisers have put his initial concerns with the reorganization to rest. But Oldroyd warned the state has never developed policies to guide the distribution of the state's lucrative development incentives.

"At some point, the governor's office will have to provide those policies," he said.

Senior economic development adviser Chris Roybal emphasized the reorganized development office will continue to report to the Legislature. "Moving it into the governor's office would place more scrutiny on [economic development], not less."