MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 • 3:40 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
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. R. Neil Walter
Rep. Douglas R. Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci, Chair
Rep. Jefferson Moss

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 Kohler called the meeting to order at 3:48 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to approve the January 31, 2025 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
1.H.B. 76 Public Education Revisions (Miller, T.)
Rep. Miller presented the bill with the assistance of LeAnn Wood, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education (USBE).
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, USBE, provided more information on the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend H.B. 76 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 428 through 430 :  Line 428 through 430
428429430

2 .        Line 747 through 749 :  Line 747 through 749
747748749

Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend H.B. 76 by striking "at an accredited school" from line 429.
Rep. MacPherson withdrew the motion.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass H.B. 76 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. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
2.H.B. 344 School Fees Amendments (Strong, M.A.)
Rep. Mark Strong presented the bill.
Mitch Hall, resident, spoke to the bill.
Crystal Young, on behalf of Utah Music Educators Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to replace H.B. 344 with 1st Substitute H.B. 344.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 344 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
3.H.B. 104 Firearm Safety in Schools Amendments (Shipp, R.P.)
Rep. Rex Shipp presented the bill with the assistance of Raelle Cunningham, Regional Director, Women for Gun Rights.
Jeff Jarrett, Executive Director, Harley's Angels, spoke in favor of the bill.
Matthew Cunningham, 9th grade student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Boards Association, and Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke to the bill.
Jackie Warren, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Julie King, resident, spoke to the bill.
Royce Van Tassell, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS), spoke to the bill.
Corinne Johnson, Utah Parents United, spoke to the bill.
Bill Pedersen, Director, Utah Shooting Sports Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kael Weston, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rebecca Riding, resident, spoke to the bill.
Kevin Korous, resident, spoke to the bill.
Clark Aposhian, Chair, Utah Shooting Sports Council, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cynthia Zumwalt, Utah State Director, Women for Gun Rights, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to replace H.B. 104 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 104.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
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. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to amend 3rd Substitute H.B. 104 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 45 through 47 :  Line 45 through 47
454647

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
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. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 104 out favorably as amended.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to amend 3rd Substitute H.B. 104 as amended with Amendment #2.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 6-5-5.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 44 through 47 :  Line 44 through 47
44454647

Yeas - 6Nays- 5Abs- 5
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 104 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-5.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
4.1st Sub. H.B. 206 Chronic Absenteeism Pilot Program (Hayes, S.)
Rep. Hayes presented the bill.
Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melanie Mortensen, resident, spoke against the bill.
Elisse Newey, USBE, spoke to the bill.
Benji Carrier, USBE, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Arthur, school teacher, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kevin Korous, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Leslie Williams, Utah Director, Conservative Ladies of America, and National Secretary, Independent American Patriots, spoke against the bill.
Diane Livingston, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke against the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to hold 1st Substitute H.B. 206.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
5.H.B. 219 Charter School Funding Revisions (Walter, N.)
HB 219 handout
Rep. Walter presented the bill.
Royce Van Tassel, UAPCS, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jared Ferguson, Athenian eAcademy, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Val Peterson moved to replace H.B. 219 with 1st Substitute H.B. 219.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Val Peterson moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 219 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
6.H.B. 341 Higher Education Revisions (Peterson, V.)
Rep. Val Peterson presented the bill.
Erik Davis, University Counsel, BYU, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to replace H.B. 341 with 1st Substitute H.B. 341.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 341 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Chair Kohler adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m.