HB 426 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Online Education Service Provider Amendments

HB 426 establishes accountability rules for Utah's "learner validated programs," which are competency-based online learning programs where students progress by mastering content rather than attending class. It directly affects local school districts (LEAs) operating these programs and third-party providers they contract with. Key requirements include mandating a licensed teacher of record for every student, setting student-to-teacher ratios, requiring documented pacing and proctored assessments, ensuring courses align with state standards, and demanding written policies covering progress monitoring and equivalent rigor to traditional courses. The bill also allows limited waivers for advanced students who demonstrate mastery through state-approved assessments. These changes aim to ensure quality and accountability in online learning while maintaining state educational standards.

Issues: ✓ Education

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 30, 2026 Signed Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Enrolled · 1 edit · Mar 19, 2026

MINOR

The primary change is a technical update to the bill's effective date, moving from February 10, 2026, to March 12, 2026. The substantive policy text regarding accountability for online education providers remains identical in both versions.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the bill was changed from May 6, 2026, to March 12, 2026, likely to align with the legislative session calendar.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to clarify accountability requirements for local education agencies (LEAs) running learner validated programs, specifically by changing the student-to-teacher ratio from a minimum to a maximum limit and updating the criteria for generating weighted pupil units. The changes also refine definitions of proctored assessments and interaction requirements to ensure academic integrity and support. These modifications aim to provide clearer guidance on how LEAs must manage online education providers while maintaining rigorous standards for student progress and funding eligibility.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding funding eligibility was modified; the criteria for generating weighted pupil units were updated to explicitly link funding to the assignment of a teacher of record and compliance with new ratio and participation documentation requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the student-to-teacher ratio requirement from a 'minimum' to a 'maximum' to ensure teachers have adequate capacity to evaluate student progress.

Refined the definition of assessment requirements from 'proctored assessments' to 'assessed checkpoints with verified academic integrity' to broaden the methods for verifying student identity.

Expanded the requirements for interactions between students and teachers of record to include specific feedback and defined triggers for additional support.

FISCAL

Updated the conditions under which a student in a learner validated program generates a weighted pupil unit, emphasizing the need for a licensed teacher of record and documented participation.

DEFINITION

Adjusted the definition of a learner validated program to clarify that participation is measured by progress rather than attendance, and updated the policy definition to include 'equivalent educational rigor'.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill's effective date from May 6, 2026, to May 6, 2026 (no change in date, but timestamp updated in header context) and corrected the Senate Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'John D. Johnson'.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

25–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 29

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

18 Yea 4

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 7, 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 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Education Committee]

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Education Committee]

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Education Committee]

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Not Considered [House Education Committee]

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Education Committee]

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor