MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, January 22, 2024 • 2:00 p.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson

Staff Present:
Finn Andrew Rose, Policy Analyst
Emma Johnsen, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair John D. Johnson called the meeting to order at 2:10 PM.
MOTION:Sen. David P. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of the January 19, 2024 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.S.B. 52 Educator Salary Amendments (Vickers, E.)
Sen. Evan J. Vickers presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe moved to pass S.B. 52 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.3rd Sub. H.B. 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives (Hall, K.)
MOTION:Sen. Keith Grover moved to replace 3rd Substitute H.B. 261 with 4th Substitute H.B. 261.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Rep. Katy Hall presented the bill with the assistance of James Evans, Former Chair of Utah Republican Party, and Geoffrey Landward, Interim Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education.
Carlos Moreno, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sara Jones, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Gabriela Packett, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Stacy Bernal, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Keiman Dixon, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rita Heagren, Vice President of Political Action, AFT Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Rod Hall, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dr. Sara Jones, Director of Government Relations and Professional Programs, Utah Education Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Juan Valladares, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dr. Eric Ruiz Bybee, Steering Committee Member, Utah Rooting Out Racism, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Marci Campbell, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jeanetta Williams, President, NAACP Salt Lake Branch, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Marcus Carr, President, Growing Unified Development, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kimberly Applewhite Teitter, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Dalane England, Vice President of Issues, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Gary P. Duran, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Dana Cooper, Secretary, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dr. Kevin Korous, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Julia Lee, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Juliet Reynolds, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Weston Myers, Member, BYU College of Republicans, spoke in favor of the bill.
Curtis Linton, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Christian Miller, President, Turning Point USA Weber State University, spoke in favor of the bill.
Billy Clause, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Cari Bartholomew, Advisory Board Member, Path Forward Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maurena Grossman, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jill Koford, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Darlene McDonald, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Rafael Higuera, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dr. Ellen Brady, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Sen. Grover assumed the chair.
Jamie Renda, Founder, Path Forward Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sen. Johnson assumed the chair.
Suzanne Dailey, Assistant Secretary, NAACP Ogden Branch, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jennifer Garner, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jayrod P. Garrett, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Shaun Oliver, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Don Porter, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Brooke Stephens, Education Director, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Susi Feltch-Malohifo'ou, Co-Director, Pacific Island Action Resources, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Remi Dryer, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Matthew Botha, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kaile Akina, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jeneanne Lock, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Te Anu Tonga, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Annie Massey, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lucy Shirisia, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Martin Carlos Munoz, Kids Count Director, Voices for Utah Children, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Greg Green, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Dr. Kirsten Stoesser, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Grover moved to pass 4th Substitute H.B. 261 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to table 4th Substitute H.B. 261.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 1-8-0.
Yeas - 1Nays- 8Abs- 0
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. Grover's original motion passed with a vote 8-1-0.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 0
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Riebe
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-0.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 4:58 PM.