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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0198" sponsor="John Arthur" designation="HB" otherSponsor="" otherHouse="Senate" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL1045" date="1/8/2026 15:01:293" printDate="01-08 15:34" subVer="0" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>4</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="07/01/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C53F-2-S405_2026070120260701" fromuid="C53F-2-S405_2025070120250507" sort="53F02 04050020260701" mtype="section" effdate="07/01/2026">53F-2-405</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="3" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Educator Salary Adjustment</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: John Arthur</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: </otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill repeals a provision that makes the amount of the educator salary adjustment <ln numlevel="1" lineno="6" slineno="0-6"/>dependent on the operation of the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program.</gd><hphead lineno="7">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9" level="1">repeals a provision that makes the amount of the educator salary adjustment dependent on <ln numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10"/>the operation of the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program; and</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11" level="1">makes technical changes.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="13">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14">Other Special Clauses:<ocl type="effdate" sort="2" numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15">This bill provides a special effective date.</ocl></oc><sa numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="17" slineno="0-17"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="53F-2-405" src="code" uid="C53F-2-S405_2026070120260701" buid="1" sort="53F02 04050020260701" numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18"><bold>53F-2-405</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 165</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="19"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="0-20">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="53F-2-405" type="amend" src="code" uid="C53F-2-S405_2026070120260701" sort="53F02 04050020260701" numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="53F-2-405" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="21">Section 1. Section <bold>53F-2-405</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="22"><bold>53F-2-405<parens/>. Educator salary adjustments.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-51" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="1-3" level="1" placement="noreturn"><display>(1)</display>As used in this section, "educator" means a person employed by a school district, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="1-4"/>charter school, regional education service agency, or the Utah Schools for the Deaf and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-5"/>the Blind who holds:<subsection ssid="1-null-52" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-6" level="2" space="false"><display>(a)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-53" dnum="i-o" level="3" placement="sameline"><display>(i)</display>a license issued by the state board; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-54" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-7" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>a position as a:<subsection ssid="1-null-55" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-8" level="4"><display>(A)</display>classroom teacher;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-56" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-9" level="4"><display>(B)</display>speech pathologist;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-57" dnum="C-o" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-10" level="4"><display>(C)</display>librarian or media specialist;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-58" dnum="D-o" numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-11" level="4"><display>(D)</display>preschool teacher;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-59" dnum="E-o" numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-12" level="4"><display>(E)</display>mentor teacher;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-60" dnum="F-o" numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-13" level="4"><display>(F)</display>teacher specialist or teacher leader;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-61" dnum="G-o" numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-14" level="4"><display>(G)</display>guidance counselor;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-62" dnum="H-o" numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-15" level="4"><display>(H)</display>audiologist;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-63" dnum="I-o" numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-16" level="4"><display>(I)</display>psychologist; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-64" dnum="J-o" numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-17" level="4"><display>(J)</display>social worker; or</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-65" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-18" level="2" space="false"><display>(b)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-66" dnum="i-o" level="3" placement="sameline"><display>(i)</display>a license issued by the Division of Professional Licensing; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-67" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-19" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>a position as a social worker.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-68" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-20" level="1"><display>(2)</display>In recognition of the need to attract and retain highly skilled and dedicated educators, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-21"/>the Legislature shall annually appropriate money for educator salary adjustments, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-22"/>subject to future budget constraints.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-69" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-23" level="1" space="false"><display>(3)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-70" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The state board shall distribute to each school district, each charter school, each <ln numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-24"/>regional education service agency, and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind <ln numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-25"/>money that the Legislature appropriates for educator salary adjustments based on the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-26"/>number of educator positions described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="53F-2-405(1)">(1)</xref> in the school district, the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-27"/>charter school, each regional education service agency, or the Utah Schools for the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-28"/>Deaf and the Blind.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-71" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-29" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Notwithstanding Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="53F-2-405(3)(a)">(3)(a)</xref>, if appropriations are insufficient to provide the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-30"/>full amount of educator salary adjustments described in this section, the state board <ln numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-31"/>shall distribute money appropriated for educator salary adjustments to school <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-32"/>districts, charter schools, each regional education service agency, and the Utah <ln numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-33"/>Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in proportion to the number of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-34"/>full-time-equivalent educator positions in a school district, a charter school, each <ln numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-35"/>regional education service agency, or the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as <ln numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-36"/>compared to the total number of full-time-equivalent educator positions in school <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-37"/>districts, charter schools, each regional education service agency, and the Utah <ln numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-38"/>Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-72" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-39" level="1"><display>(4)</display>A school district, a charter school, each regional education service agency, or the Utah <ln numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-40"/>Schools for the Deaf and the Blind shall award bonuses to educators as follows:<subsection ssid="1-null-73" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-41" level="2"><display>(a)</display>for fiscal year 2026, the amount of the salary adjustment for each <ln numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-42"/>full-time-equivalent educator is<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="5" groupid="5" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">:</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="21" groupid="16" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true"> </amend><subsection ssid="1-null-74" dnum="i-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-43" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="2" level="3"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1023" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(i)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="16" groupid="11" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="end">if <xref depth="2" refnumber="53F-6-4">Chapter 6, Part 4, Utah Fits All Scholarship Program</xref>, is funded and in effect, </amend><amendoutend style="2"/><ln numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-44"/>$10,350;<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="19" groupid="14" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both"> or</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-75" dnum="ii-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-45" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="2" level="3"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1024" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(ii)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="13" groupid="9" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="end">if <xref depth="2" refnumber="53F-6-4">Chapter 6, Part 4, Utah Fits All Scholarship Program</xref>, is not funded and in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-46"/>effect, $5,175;</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-76" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-47" level="2"><display>(b)</display>an individual who is not a full-time educator shall receive a partial salary adjustment <ln numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-48"/>based on the number of hours the individual works as an educator;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-77" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-49" level="2"><display>(c)</display>a salary adjustment may not be awarded if an educator has received an unsatisfactory <ln numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-50"/>rating on the educator's three most recent evaluations; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-78" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-51" level="2"><display>(d)</display>for a fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2024, the amount of the salary <ln numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-52"/>adjustment is equal to:<subsection ssid="1-null-79" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-53" level="3"><display>(i)</display>the amount of salary adjustment in the preceding fiscal year; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-80" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-54" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>a percentage increase that is equal to the percentage increase in the value of the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-55"/>WPU in the preceding fiscal year.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-81" dnum="5-o" numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-56" level="1"><display>(5)</display>In  accordance with <xref depth="1" refnumber="63G-3">Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act</xref>, the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-57"/>state board:<subsection ssid="1-null-82" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-58" level="2"><display>(a)</display>shall make rules to ensure that the LEAs do not:<subsection ssid="1-null-83" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-59" level="3"><display>(i)</display>reduce or supplant a compensation increase from an increase in the WPU value <ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-60"/>with an increase from the salary supplement in this section; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-84" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-61" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>reduce or artificially limit a teacher's salary to convert the salary supplement in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-62"/>this section into a windfall to the LEA; and</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-85" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-63" level="2"><display>(b)</display>may make rules as necessary to administer this section.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-86" dnum="6-o" numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-64" level="1" space="false"><display>(6)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-87" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall appropriate sufficient <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-65"/>money each year to:<subsection ssid="1-null-88" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-66" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>maintain educator salary adjustments provided in prior years; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-89" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="1-67" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>provide educator salary adjustments to new employees.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-90" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="1-68" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Money appropriated for educator salary adjustments shall include money for the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="1-69"/>following employer-paid benefits:<subsection ssid="1-null-91" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="1-70" level="3"><display>(i)</display>retirement;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-92" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="1-71" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>worker's compensation;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-93" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="1-72" level="3"><display>(iii)</display>social security; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-94" dnum="iv-o" numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="1-73" level="3"><display>(iv)</display>Medicare.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-95" dnum="7-o" numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="1-74" level="1" space="false"><display>(7)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-96" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall:<subsection ssid="1-null-97" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="1-75" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>maintain the salary adjustments provided to school administrators in the 2007-08 <ln numlevel="1" lineno="96" slineno="1-76"/>school year; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-98" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="97" slineno="1-77" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>provide salary adjustments for new school administrators in the same amount as <ln numlevel="1" lineno="98" slineno="1-78"/>provided for existing school administrators.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-99" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="99" slineno="1-79" level="2"><display>(b)</display>The appropriation provided for educator salary adjustments described in this section <ln numlevel="1" lineno="100" slineno="1-80"/>shall include salary adjustments for school administrators as specified in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="53F-2-405(7)(a)"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="101" slineno="1-81"/>(7)(a)</xref>.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-100" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="102" slineno="1-82" level="2"><display>(c)</display>In distributing and awarding salary adjustments for school administrators, the state <ln numlevel="1" lineno="103" slineno="1-83"/>board, a school district, a charter school, each regional education service agency, or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="104" slineno="1-84"/>the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind shall comply with the requirements for <ln numlevel="1" lineno="105" slineno="1-85"/>the distribution and award of educator salary adjustments as provided in Subsections <xref depth="4" refnumber="53F-2-405(3)"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="106" slineno="1-86"/>(3)</xref> and <xref depth="4" refnumber="53F-2-405(4)">(4)</xref>.</subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="3" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="107" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="107">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="108"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="7/1/2026">July 1, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>1-8-26 3:34 PM</tm></rev></foot></leg>