MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 12, 2024 • 8:00 a.m. • 120 Senate Building


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

Members Absent:
Rep. Tyler Clancy
Rep. Jefferson Moss
Rep. Val L. Peterson

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 8:05 a.m. of February 12, 2024.
1.S.B. 64 Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program Amendments (Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Fillmore presented the bill.
Ben Horsley, Granite School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pulsipher moved to pass S.B. 64 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
2.S.C.R. 1 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing School Support Staff (Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Fillmore presented the bill.
Jay Blain, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sydney Dickson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, spoke in favor of the office.
Melanie Mortensen, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pulsipher moved to pass S.C.R. 1 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
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. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to place S.C.R. 1 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
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. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
3.S.B. 52 Educator Salary Amendments (Vickers, E.)
Sen. Vickers presented the bill.
Corinne Shehan, citizen, Spectrum Academy, spoke in favor of the bill.
Krisanne Lewis, Co-Chair, UOTA Committee, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass S.B. 52 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
4.H.B. 413 Student Mental Health Amendments (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Eliason presented the bill.
Michelle Knight, USBE, spoke to the bill.
Nicholeen Peck, World Organization of Women, spoke to the bill.
Lexie Cunningham, Utah School Boards Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jay Blain, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Susan Edwards, Canyon School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Amy S., citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Taryn Hiatt, Executive Director, Utah American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to hold H.B. 413.The motion failed with a vote of 5-5-5.
Yeas - 5Nays- 5Abs- 5
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass H.B. 413 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. A. Romero
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
5.H.B. 303 School Curriculum Requirements (Stenquist, J.)
Rep. Stenquist presented the bill.
Megan, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Nicholeen Peck, World Organization of Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Jones, Utah Education Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Melanie Mortensen, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lexie Cunningham, Utah School Boards Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Diane Livingston, Utah Legislative Watch, Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Royce Van Tassell, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Springville High School, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ellie Menlove, Policy Counsel, ACLU, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Elisa Sonntag, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Zee Kilpack, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Leah Hansen, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Andrea Bronson, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jacob Hancey, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kevin Labresh, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to amend H.B. 303 with Amendment #3.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Amendment 3
H.B. 303
1 .        Page 2, Lines 56 through 57 :  Page 2, Lines 56 through 57
56                 (i) wearing religious clothing , jewelry, or accessories that are central to the individual's sincerely
57         held religious belief;

2 .        Page , Line 59 through Page 3, Line 60 :  Page , Line 59 through Page 3, Line 60
59                 (iii) displaying the flag of the United States of America, the state, or another nation or
60         state { that is related to the relevant approved curriculum } ; { or }

3 .        Page 3, Lines 61 through 64 :  Page 3, Lines 61 through 64
61                 (iv) discussing an age-appropriate topic or displaying an age-appropriate image or
62         symbol that:
63                 (A) is a component of an approved curriculum; and
64                 (B) does not endorse, promote, or disparage as described in Subsection (4)(a) { .   } ; or
(v) complying with Section 53G-10-204.

Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass H.B. 303 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-5-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 5Abs- 4
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
MOTION:Rep. Johnson moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Chair Pierucci adjourned the meeting.
NOTE: H.B. 0391, S.B. 0056, H.B. 0455, H.B. 0112 were not discussed in the meeting.