MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 • 3:40 p.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Staff Present:
Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst
Calvin Cruz, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 3:46 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of Jan. 30, 2025.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
1.1st Sub. S.B. 178 Devices in Public Schools (Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Fillmore presented the bill with the assistance of Kristin Andrus, The Policy Project.
SB178 Presentation Slides
Milian Venegas, resident, spoke in favor of the bill
Kathleen Barlow, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Coyne, BYU Professor, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Christenson, Principal, Granite Schools District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Monica Wilbur, Author, Higher Ground, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Michelle Linford, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Anna Sokol, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tina Seastrand, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jacquelynn Sokol, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Brinton, General Pediatrician, spoke in favor of the bill.
Laura Fetzer, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Avery Gonzales, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Partridge, President, Provo School Board, spoke in favor of the bill.
Christina Jackman, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 178 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
2.S.B. 188 School District Modifications (Grover, K.)
Sen. Grover presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to replace S.B. 188 with 1st Substitute S.B. 188.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. McKell assumed the chair.
Sen. Johnson resumed the chair.
Ada Wilson, Alpine School Board Member, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Julie King, Alpine School Board Member, spoke to the bill.
Mike Gowans, President, Alpine Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Stacy Bateman, Alpine School Board Member, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 188 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
3.S.B. 162 Workforce Development Amendments (Millner, A.)
Sen. Millner presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to replace S.B. 162 with 1st Substitute S.B. 162.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
Monica Wilbur, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Brian Rague, Associate Dean, Weber State University, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chris Gonzalez, Marketing and Communications Manager, Utah Valley University, spoke in favor of the bill.
Aaron Davis, Assistant Professor, Utah Tech, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kelvyn Cullimore, BioUtah, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 162 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
4.1st Sub. H.B. 91 Technical College Amendments (Watkins, C.)
Rep. Watkins presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 91 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to place 1st Substitute H.B. 91 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
5.H.B. 97 Private Postsecondary Education Modifications (Whyte, S.)
Rep. Whyte presented the bill with the assistance of Katherine Hass, Director, Consumer Protection Division.
Monika Wilber, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Jeremy Wells, Chancellor, Roseman University, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass H.B. 97 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
6.S.B. 170 School Discipline Amendments (Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Escamilla presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace S.B. 170 with 1st Substitute S.B. 170.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 170 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.