MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 25, 2022 • 4:10 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. V. Lowry Snow, Chair
Rep. Susan Pulsipher, Vice Chair
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Kera Birkeland
Rep. Dan N. Johnson
Rep. Karen Kwan
Rep. Bradley G. Last
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Adam Robertson
Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner
Rep. Steve Waldrip
Rep. Christine F. Watkins
Rep. Elizabeth Weight

Members Absent:
Rep. Mike Schultz

Staff Present:
Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst
Makelle Wininger, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Snow called the meeting to order at 4:14:08 PM.
1.1st Sub. H.B. 374 Sensitive Materials in Schools (Ivory, K.)
Rep. Ken Ivory presented the bill with the assistance of Larry Bergeson, Superintendent, Washington County School District, and Brooke Stephens, Utah Parents United. They distributed handouts and responded to questions from the committee.
1 HB374 S1 Sensitive Materials in Schools Flyer
HB374 S1 Sensitive Materials
Sydnee Dickson, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah State Board of Education responded to questions from the committee.
Larry Bergeson responded to questions from the committee.
Lyla Mahmoud, Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union, spoke against the bill.
Nichole Mason, President, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sara Johnson, member of the public, spoke in favor of the bill.
Erika Hodges, member of the public, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ashley Anderson, member of the public, spoke against the bill.
Jonathan Bejarnao, member of the public, spoke against the bill.
Aaron Bullen, member of the public, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Robertson moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 374 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 374 with further discussion from the committee.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-2.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. B. Last
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Robertson moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 374 out favorably with further discussion from the committee.The motion passed with a vote of 11-2-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 2Abs- 2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. B. Last
Rep. M. Schultz
Vice Chair Pulsipher assumed the chair.
2.H.B. 390 Early College and Concurrent Enrollment Program Amendments (Snow, V. L.)
Chair Snow presented the bill with assistance of Nathan Auck, Specialist, Utah State Board of Education. They responded to questions from the committee.
Rae Duckworth, member of the public, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to replace H.B. 390 with 1st Substitute H.B. 390.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. B. Last
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. S. Waldrip
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 390 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. B. Last
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. Peterson assumed the chair.
3.H.B. 481 Education Reporting Amendments (Pulsipher, S.)
Vice Chair Pulsipher presented the bill with the assistance of Jeffrey Van Hulten, Director of Public Affairs, Utah State Board of Education.
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to replace H.B. 481 with 1st Substitute H.B. 481.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. B. Last
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
MOTION:Rep. Watkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 481 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. B. Last
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. Pulsipher assumed the chair.
4.H.B. 475 Use of Public Education Stabilization Account One-time Funding (Last, B.)
Rep. Last presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass H.B. 475 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. B. Last
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. M. Schultz
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
5.H.B. 478 Minimum Basic Tax Rate Reduction (Last, B.)
Rep. Last presented the bill and responded to questions from the committee.
Rep. Snow resumed the chair.
Rusty Cannon, President, Utah Taxpayers Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jay Blain, Director of Policy and Research, Utah Education Association, commented on the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass H.B. 478 out favorably with further discussion from the committee.The motion passed with a vote of 12-2-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 2Abs- 1
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. B. Last
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. M. Schultz
6.H.J.R. 20 Joint Resolution Designating National Speech and Debate Education Day (Welton, D.)
Rep. Doug Welton presented the bill.
Monica Wilbur, member of the public, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Waldrip moved to pass H.J.R. 20 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
7.H.B. 417 Online Course Access Amendments (Birkeland, K.)
Rep. Birkeland presented the bill with the assistance of former Sen. Howard Stephenson. They responded to questions from the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Pulsipher moved to replace H.B. 417 with 1st Substitute H.B. 417.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Pulsipher moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 417 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
8.H.B. 437 Education Research and Innovation Amendments (Moss, J.)
Rep. Jefferson Moss presented the bill.
McKell Withers, Director, Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pulsipher moved to replace H.B. 437 with 1st Substitute H.B. 437.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Pulsipher moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 437 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
9.H.B. 428 School Safety Amendments (Hollins, S.)
Rep. Sandra Hollins presented the bill with the assistance of Elizabeth Garbe, Senior Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, United Way of Salt Lake, and Patty Norman, Deputy Superintendent of Student Achievement, Utah State Board of Education. They responded to questions from the committee.
Scott Ulbrich, board member and former chair, United Way of Salt Lake, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennie Earl, member of the public, spoke against the bill.
Dr. Alli Martin, assistant principal, spoke in favor of the bill.
Becky Hope, member of the public, spoke against the bill.
Brittany Ciara, member of the public, spoke in favor of the bill.
Helen Thomas Robson, member of the public, spoke against the bill.
Jennie Earl responded to a question from the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Kwan moved to replace H.B. 428 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 428.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Ballard moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 428 out favorably with further discussion from the committee.The motion passed with a vote of 8-3-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 3Abs- 4
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
10.H.B. 366 Education Sovereignty and Curriculum Transparency (Stratton, K.)
Rep. Keven Stratton presented the bill and responded to questions from the committee.
MOTION:Rep. Robertson moved to replace H.B. 366 with 1st Substitute H.B. 366.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Robertson moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 366 out favorably with further discussion from the committee.The motion failed with a vote of 5-5-5.
Yeas - 5Nays- 5Abs- 5
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Kwan moved to approve the minutes for February 24, 2022.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Robertson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Kwan
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. E. Weight
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. B. Last
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Rohner
Rep. M. Schultz
Chair Snow adjourned the meeting at 7:42:20 PM.