Public Education Funding Amendments

SB 321 removes a "hold harmless" rule that previously protected Utah school districts from losing state funding when they increased local school taxes (called "voted" or "board" levies"). The bill phases out this protection gradually and limits the number of local levy increments eligible for guaranteed state funding to 20 total (combining both voted and board levies), instead of separate limits for each type. This change directly affects school districts that rely on local levies to supplement education funding, as they may now receive less state support when raising taxes beyond the new cap. The bill does not alter the per-pupil funding amount ($43.10) but modifies how the state covers local levy increases.