MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, January 31, 2025 • 2:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci, Chair
Rep. Michael L. Kohler, Vice Chair
Rep. Tiara Auxier
Rep. Ariel Defay
Rep. Joseph Elison
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. Tracy J. Miller
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Douglas R. Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Jefferson Moss
Rep. R. Neil Walter

Staff Present:
Finn Andrew Rose, Policy Analyst
Tisha Gibby, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Pierucci called the meeting to order at 2:08 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Kohler moved to approve the January 28, 2025 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
1.H.B. 281 Health Curriculum and Procedures Amendments (Gricius, S.)
Rep. Stephanie Gricius presented the bill with the assistance of Aaron Fischer, Director, Utah School Mental Health Collaborative.
Diane Livingston, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tanner Hone, President, Utah School Social Work Association, spoke to the bill.
Daysha Stephens, on behalf of marriage and family therapist Jeff Bennion, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tiana McCall, licensed clinical social worker, spoke against the bill.
Larissa Archuleta, licensed clinical social worker, spoke against the bill.
Jessica Black, Utah Mental Health Counselors Association, spoke against the bill.
Brooke Stephens, Utah Moms for America, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Stroup, Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, spoke against the bill.
Corinne Johnson, President, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kevin Labresh, school psychologist, spoke against the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Joel Johnson, National Association of Social Workers, spoke against the bill.
Crystal Young, lobbyist, spoke in favor of the bill.
Aaron Bullen, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Laurel Fetzer, resident, spoke against the bill.
Alexis Ence, Vice President, Washington County Republican Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to replace H.B. 281 with 1st Substitute H.B. 281.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 281 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 88 through 90 :  Line 88 through 90
888990
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 281 as amended with Amendment #4.
Amendment 4

1 .        Line 241 through 243 :  Line 241 through 243
241242243

2 .        Line 398 through 400 :  Line 398 through 400
398399400
After some committee discussion, Rep. Peck withdrew the motion.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 281 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 11-2-3.
Yeas - 11Nays- 2Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Auxier moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 281 as amended with Amendment #5.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 3-10-3.
Amendment 5

1 .        Line 93 through 100 :  Line 93 through 100
93949596 979899100
Yeas - 3Nays- 10Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
2.H.B. 204 Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program Amendments (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Karen Peterson presented the bill.
Sylvia Read, Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Val Peterson moved to amend H.B. 204 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 30 through 37 :  Line 30 through 37
30313233343536 37

2 .        Line 49 through 52 :  Line 49 through 52
49505152
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Val Peterson moved to pass H.B. 204 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
3.H.B. 265 Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Karen Peterson presented the bill with the assistance of Geoff Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education.
Rep. Kohler assumed the chair.
Kelvyn Cullimore, CEO, BioUtah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jason Chipman, Libertas Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
Josh Stavros, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to amend H.B. 265 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 100 :  Line 100
100101

2 .        Line 208 :  Line 208
208209210211

Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass H.B. 265 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 10-3-3.
Yeas - 10Nays- 3Abs- 3
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
4.H.B. 184 School Trust Land Amendments (Miller, T.)
Rep. Miller presented the bill with the assistance of Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent, Utah State Board of Education (USBE).
Paula Plant, Director, School Children's Trust, USBE, presented additional information.
Liz Mumford, Program Manager, Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association, and Utah School Board Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to pass H.B. 184 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-1-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 1Abs- 3
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Chair Kohler adjourned the meeting at 4:53 p.m.