Education

SB 312 modifies Utah's educator license discipline rules to better protect students. It creates a tiered system where public schools must automatically restrict employment or volunteering for educators found ineligible due to serious misconduct involving actual harm, credible risk of harm, or sexual misconduct with minors. For less severe cases (like administrative errors or technical violations), restrictions require written findings proving specific risk to student safety, not automatic bans. This directly affects educators whose licenses are denied, suspended, or revoked, as well as school districts enforcing these restrictions. The bill ensures only conduct posing real danger triggers automatic employment bans, while technical errors or minor mistakes do not.

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 Attendance-based grading is permitted, but individualized attendance plans are repealed.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.

HB 188 amends Utah's juvenile justice laws to clarify procedures for handling student offenses on school grounds. It directly affects students (minors), schools, law enforcement, and juvenile courts by requiring schools to refer minors to law enforcement for drug offenses and updating eligibility for alternative resolutions (nonjudicial adjustments) in specific cases. Key provisions include defining terms like "school property" and "school-sponsored activity," changing notification requirements for school-based incidents, and repealing outdated reporting statutes. These changes standardize how schools and authorities respond to student misconduct while focusing on concrete policy updates to existing laws.

HB 334 creates the Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission to study gaps in educator support systems. The commission will examine issues like communication between schools and policymakers, professional development opportunities, teacher liability insurance models, and recognition programs, with a focus on educators not covered by professional organizations. It will hold its first meeting before October 1, 2026, and submit recommendations to the Education Interim Committee. The bill does not change existing laws or allocate funding, as it establishes a study body to inform future policy decisions.

SB 65 amends rules for distributing minimum basic tax revenue to school districts. It requires the state treasurer to deposit county tax payments into a special fund and notify the state board within 35 days. The state board must then send school districts either the full deposit amount or their remaining unfunded program costs (whichever is less), but not exceeding the deposit. The bill also clarifies that the state isn't subject to certain notice requirements before implementing these tax rates.