Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 467: Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications

HB 467 modifies Utah's Fits All Scholarship Program to clarify eligibility and strengthen oversight. It requires students to be under 19 as of September 1 of the scholarship year and establishes consumer protection standards for how scholarship funds are spent. The bill also enhances program oversight, improves customer service standards for participants, and makes technical updates to program administration rules. These changes directly affect Utah students in kindergarten through 12th grade applying for the scholarship, ensuring clearer eligibility and better safeguards for scholarship funds. The bill does not appropriate new funds but adjusts existing program operations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies scholarship program to clarify eligibility, strengthen oversight, and ensure proper fund usage, enhancing access and program integrity for K-12 students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 244: Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in Schools

SB 244 requires all Utah public schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs) by the 2026-2027 school year, directly affecting every school within a local education agency (LEA). The bill mandates that CERPs include evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care protocols, proper placement and maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and training for staff in CPR and AED use. It establishes a $200,000 grant program prioritizing high-needs schools (those with Title I status or over 50% free/reduced lunch students) to cover AED purchases, maintenance, and staff training. The State Board of Education will oversee implementation and set rules for compliance, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates cardiac safety protocols and $200k grants for high-needs schools, enhancing student health and safety within education95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates evidence-based cardiac emergency protocols, AEDs, and staff training in schools, directly enhancing student health services and public health safety through funding and requirements.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 502: School Attendance Modifications

HB 502 establishes standardized citizenship grading for Utah students, requiring schools to use consistent state-defined criteria for skills like attendance, participation, and meeting deadlines. Parents can opt their children out of citizenship grades, in which case students receive academic grades only and are ineligible for a related higher education scholarship program funded by voluntary tax contributions. The bill also creates statewide test-out options for core classes (English, math, science, social studies) allowing students to earn credit without taking the course, beginning in 2027. Attendance-based grading is permitted, but individualized attendance plans are repealed. These changes affect all Utah public school students, parents, and school districts, with key provisions taking effect in the 2027-2028 school year.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires citizenship grades for scholarship eligibility, restricting access to higher education funding for opt-out students per bill's scholarship ineligibility clause.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 145: School Excused Absence Amendments

HB 145 amends Utah's definition of "valid excuse" for school absences to include participation in specific extracurricular clubs. It explicitly adds mountain biking, shooting sports, and Utah State University-administered youth development programs (focused on agriculture, STEM, leadership, etc.) to the list of activities that qualify as a valid excuse. This directly affects public school students in Utah who participate in these clubs, allowing them to miss school for club-related events without being marked truant. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and makes only technical changes to the existing code.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands valid excuse for absences to include specific educational clubs, enhancing student program access without penalty.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 181: School Discipline Amendments

SB 181 sets safety standards for school seclusion rooms (locked or isolated areas used for student discipline) and creates a one-time grant program to help schools upgrade existing rooms. It requires minimum physical standards (room size, lighting, ventilation, unbreakable windows), mandates audio/video recording during seclusion with one-year retention, and prohibits dangerous objects. The grant program requires local schools to provide matching funds for compliance but forbids using funds to build new seclusion rooms. The bill directly affects Utah public and private K-12 schools, their staff, and students subjected to seclusion, integrating these standards into existing school policies and reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes safety standards for seclusion rooms and provides grants for upgrades, directly enhancing student safety in school discipline practices.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 77: Dual Language Immersion Amendments

SB 77 amends Utah's laws to enhance concurrent enrollment courses for students who have passed foreign language Advanced Placement exams and extend proficiency assessments for dual language immersion programs. The bill requires universities to offer upper-level language courses in person or through blended learning models, taught exclusively by instructors with specific qualifications (such as a master's degree or advanced language proficiency). It extends the current proficiency assessment for dual language immersion students to cover grades 3 through 12 and allows school districts to partner with universities outside their service area if qualified instructors are unavailable. These changes directly affect accelerated language students, universities, school districts, and instructors involved in these programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends laws to enhance concurrent enrollment, extend proficiency assessments, and require qualified language courses in higher education, strengthening language immersion programs and curriculum standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 152: Public and Higher Education Collaboration

SB 152 clarifies how public school districts and higher education institutions handle student data by requiring clear explanations about what data is collected, how it will be used, and the right for families to opt out of data sharing. The bill specifically addresses transparency around data practices under existing law (Section 53E-9-402(1)), mandating that schools disclose collection methods, usage purposes, and opt-out options to parents or guardians. It directly affects school districts, colleges, and families by standardizing data privacy communication. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve transparency, not on new funding or program creation. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates transparency in student data practices, requiring schools to disclose collection methods and opt-out options to parents, strengthening student privacy protections in education.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires schools to disclose student data practices and opt-out options, directly protecting student privacy under data collection rules.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 164: School Construction Amendments

SB 164 transfers oversight of public school construction projects from Utah's State Board of Education to the Division of Facilities Construction and Management. It requires school districts to obtain division approval before construction begins, including adherence to cost matrices, safety standards (like fire safety and accessibility), and mandatory inspections. The bill establishes new requirements for online documentation tracking, cost reporting, and safety consultations with the state security chief, with full compliance needed by January 1, 2027. This directly affects all Utah school districts planning new construction or major renovations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationTransfers oversight to ensure safety standards, cost adherence, and inspections for school construction, enhancing infrastructure management per education infrastructure indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 131: 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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands K-12 charter school access for local students and military families, increasing educational options without restricting funding or curriculum.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 81: Dyslexia Testing Amendments

SB 81 requires Utah school districts and charter schools to provide targeted reading interventions when a qualifying dyslexia assessment - administered by a licensed professional within their scope of practice - indicates a student lacks reading competency, shows dyslexia characteristics, or is falling behind in reading skills. The bill defines "qualifying dyslexia assessment" and updates licensing rules for mental health therapists and psychologists to explicitly include dyslexia evaluation and treatment under approved diagnostic standards. Schools must then conduct diagnostic assessments, offer individualized tutoring, monitor progress, and inform parents about support options. This applies to students in grades 1-6, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates targeted reading interventions for dyslexia-identified students, strengthening K-12 educational support through required assessments and interventions per bill language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education