MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, January 26, 2024 • 2:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci, Chair
Rep. Steven J. Lund, Vice Chair
Rep. Kera Birkeland
Rep. Tyler Clancy
Rep. Joseph Elison
Rep. Katy Hall
Rep. Dan N. Johnson
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Susan Pulsipher
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. R. Neil Walter

Members Absent:
Rep. Jefferson Moss

Staff Present:
Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst
Reese Boardman, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Lund called the meeting to order at 2:09 p.m. of January 26, 2024.
1.H.B. 121 Educator Background Check Amendments (Lee, T.)
Rep. Lee presented the bill.
MOTION:Chair Pierucci moved to move to next agenda item.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. J. Moss
2.H.B. 221 Stipends for Future Educators (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
Renee Pinkney, Utah Education Association, President, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chandler Allen, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jessy Murphy, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kaitlyn Bate, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kylee Morgan, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ayden Womack, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kristin Hadley, Dean, College of Education, Weber State University, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mackenzie Womack, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Arthur, citizen, Utah Teacher Fellows, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to replace H.B. 221 with 1st Substitute H.B. 221.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Moss
MOTION:Chair Pierucci moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 221 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Moss
3.H.B. 286 State Aid for Scholarships (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
Devon Wiser, Vice President of Government Relations, Utah State University, spoke in the favor of the bill.
Jennifer Boehme, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Leah Hansen, citizen, spoke against the bill. .
MOTION:Chair Pierucci moved to replace H.B. 286 with 1st Substitute H.B. 286.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 286 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-2.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
4.H.B. 296 Reading Disability Amendments (Pulsipher, S.)
Rep. Pulsipher presented the bill.
Karalee Atkinsin, citizen, Utah Literacy Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michael Ackensen, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Donell Pons, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Curtis Pons, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Treadway, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lisa Crellin, President, Academic Language Therapy Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to amend H.B. 296 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Amendment 1
H.B. 296
1 .        Page 2, Line 33 :  Page 2, Line 33
33                 (c) "Dyslexia" means a { specific learning disability } learning disorder that:

2 .        Page 2, Lines 52 through 54 :  Page 2, Lines 52 through 54
52                 (4) (a) If a benchmark assessment or supplemental reading assessment indicates a
53         student lacks competency in a reading skill, is demonstrating characteristics of dyslexia, or is lagging behind other students in the student's
54         grade in acquiring a reading skill, the school district or charter school shall:

3 .        Page 3, Line 76 :  Page 3, Line 76
76         assessment for students in kindergarten through grade 3.
(6) A student with dyslexia is only eligible for special education services if the student meets federal eligibility criteria.

Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Chair Pierucci moved to pass H.B. 296 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
5.H.B. 287 Advanced Degree Scholarship Program (Moss, C.)
Rep. Moss presented the bill.
Haley Kelley, citizen, spoke in support of the bill.
Marilee Coles-Ritchie, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Boehme, Executive Director, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Arthur, citizen, Utah Teacher Fellows, spoke in favor of the bill.
Stephen Seabury, citizen, Utah Teacher Fellows, spoke in favor of bill.
Melinda Hortin, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kristin Van Brunt, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to hold H.B. 287.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Chair Pierucci moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Chair Lund adjourned the meeting.