School Scheduling Amendments
HB 358 replaces day-based or hour-based requirements for high school graduation with a minimum credit hour system, where one credit equals at least 83 class hours. It directly affects Utah high school students (grades 9-12) and school districts by changing graduation standards from calendar days to credit accumulation. The bill also requires driver education to track actual student attendance and makes technical updates to education codes governing school calendars and online student extracurricular eligibility. These changes aim to provide scheduling flexibility for schools while maintaining consistent academic standards.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 26, 2026
Signed Mar 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute #1
→
Enrolled
·
5 edits
·
Mar 19, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates Utah's school scheduling laws to replace rigid day-based requirements with flexible credit-hour requirements for high school students using online programs. It also clarifies definitions for school programs and establishes specific rules for online students participating in extracurricular activities, ensuring they pay fair fees and meet the same eligibility standards as traditional students. The effective date for these changes is set to July 1, 2026.
Scope change
The bill expands flexibility for high school scheduling by allowing credit-hour requirements instead of fixed instructional days for attendance-validated programs, while simultaneously clarifying the rights and obligations of online students in extracurricular activities.
REQUIREMENT
Replaced the requirement for a nine-month school term with a flexible credit-hour system for grades 9-12 in attendance-validated programs, allowing schools to adapt schedules.
DEFINITION
Updated the definition of 'Minimum School Program' to explicitly include the nine-month term requirement and credit-hour standards for high schools.
ELIGIBILITY
Added specific provisions allowing online students to participate in extracurricular activities at their local public schools if they meet standard eligibility requirements.
FISCAL
Established a fee-sharing model where online schools must pay a portion of the costs for extracurricular activities their students attend at public schools.
TIMELINE
Set the effective date for the new scheduling and extracurricular rules to July 1, 2026.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Feb 18, 2026
How they voted
25–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 29
Mar 6, 2026
D
Democratic6
83% Yea
N
Forward1
100% Yea
R
Republican22
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
42
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Mar 19, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent Calendar [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Education Committee]
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Education Committee]
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Introduced
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Education Committee]
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Education Committee]
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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