SB 291 Utah Senate · 2026 General Session

Student Transportation Amendments

SB 291 amends Utah's student transportation rules to expand eligibility for state-funded bus service. It defines "hazardous routes" (e.g., high-speed roads without sidewalks, multi-lane highways, or dangerous intersections) and creates new eligibility: students in kindergarten-grade 6 living ≥1.5 miles from school, or students in middle school (grades 6-12) living ≥2 miles away. Crucially, it adds eligibility for students in certain counties if their walking route is hazardous, regardless of distance. The bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 to fund transportation for students on hazardous routes, requiring school districts to respond to parent petitions within 30 days. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill substitute adds $500,000 in funding for fiscal year 2027, clarifies that school districts must receive designated funds before being required to transport students under hazardous route provisions, and removes the requirement for districts to provide transportation for students in first-, second-, or third-class counties regardless of distance. The hazardous route definition was also simplified by removing the railway crossing and intersection crash rate criteria. These changes reduce the financial burden on school districts while maintaining safety protections for students.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing eligibility for students in first-, second-, or third-class counties to receive transportation regardless of distance, and by making transportation for hazardous routes conditional on receiving specific designated funds from the state board.

FISCAL

Added $500,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2027 from the Income Tax Fund to support transportation operations.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed eligibility for students in first-, second-, or third-class counties to receive transportation regardless of distance from school.

REQUIREMENT

Changed requirement so school districts are not obligated to provide transportation for hazardous route students unless they receive specific designated funds from the state board.

Modified language to clarify that transportation funds must be used specifically for eligible students under Subsection (2)(b) rather than general transportation purposes.

Added new provision allowing state board to designate funds for additional bus stops, capacity, routes, or drivers.

Removed requirement for school districts to respond to hazardous route petitions within 30 days.

DEFINITION

Simplified hazardous route definition by removing criteria for railway crossings and intersections with high pedestrian crash rates.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules [Senate Education Committee]

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors