Charter School Eligibility
SB 131 expands Utah charter school enrollment preferences to include students living within the city or county where the school is located (if their home school is at capacity) and children of military service members and Department of Defense employees. The bill amends existing eligibility rules to add these categories to the list of students who may receive priority admission, while maintaining random lotteries for oversubscribed schools. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not require new state funding. This directly affects charter schools and families seeking enrollment in these schools.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026
Signed Mar 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Amended Excerpts 2/20/2026 12:02:76
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Amended 2/20/2026 12:02:76
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5 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Utah's charter school enrollment laws to clarify priority categories and add new preferences. It expands eligibility by including foster children and siblings of current students, while also adding preferences for military children, Department of Defense civilians, and students displaced by the pandemic. The changes aim to ensure fair access for specific vulnerable groups and families connected to the schools.
Scope change
The bill broadens the scope of eligible students for charter school admission by adding new priority categories and clarifying existing ones.
ELIGIBILITY
Added specific enrollment preferences for foster children residing with enrolled individuals and siblings of current students.
Added enrollment preferences for children of military service members and Department of Defense civilians.
Added a temporary preference for students who withdrew from charter schools to attend online or home schools during the 2020-2022 school years due to the COVID-19 emergency.
Reordered and clarified the list of priority categories to include new groups alongside existing ones like military families.
TIMELINE
Set the effective date of the bill to July 1, 2026.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2026 · House Feb 26, 2026
How they voted
22–3
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 29
Feb 10, 2026
D
Democratic6
50% Nay
N
Forward1
100% Yea
R
Republican22
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
44
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
3
Mar 19, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ comm rpt/ amended [House Education Committee]
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Education Committee]
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Education Committee]
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Education Committee]
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Jan 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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