HB 353 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments

HB 353 requires Utah's Board of Higher Education to improve credit transfer processes for students moving from institutions outside Utah's public higher education system. Specifically, it mandates the Board to create clearer pathways for these students, prevent unnecessary course duplication, and provide them with specific information about how their credits will transfer. The bill directly affects students transferring from out-of-state or non-system colleges to Utah public universities and colleges. These changes aim to make credit transfers smoother and more predictable, without changing tuition or adding new funding.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed Mar 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 3 edits · Mar 19, 2026
MINOR
The bill was finalized in its enrolled form with minor formatting adjustments, such as adding page headers and bullet points to the long title. The substantive policy language regarding credit transfers, board powers, and reporting requirements remains identical to the previous version.
TECHNICAL

Added page headers ("Enrolled Copy", "H.B. 353") and page numbers to the document text.

Formatted the "Highlighted Provisions" section in the long title to use bullet points for better readability.

Adjusted line breaks and spacing throughout the text to conform to standard enrolled bill formatting.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House Feb 9, 2026

How they voted

231
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 29
Feb 27, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
N Forward1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican22
16 Yea 1 Nay 5
72% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
38
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Mar 19, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent Calendar [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors