MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 14, 2025 • 2:00 p.m. • 210 Senate Building


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

Members Absent:
Sen. Michael K. McKell

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 2:07 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to approve the minutes of February 13, 2025.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
1.S.B. 267 Charter School Authorizer Amendments (Johnson, J.)
Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair.
Sen. Johnson presented the bill with the assistance of David Forbush, Schools of the Future, and Howard Henley, former chairman, State Charter School Board.
Brian Allen, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Carolyn Sharette, Superintendent, American Preparatory Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sen. Balderree assumed the chair.
Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke to the bill.
Susan Pulsipher, State Charter School Board, spoke to the bill.
Sen. Johnson raised a point of order.
Kim Frank, Utah Charter Network, spoke to the bill.
Brett Baker, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass S.B. 267 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
2.S.B. 105 Student Privacy and Modesty in Public Education (Plumb, J.)
Sen. Plumb presented the bill.
Sen. Johnson resumed the chair.
Marina Lowe, Policy Director, Equality Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
William Cosgrove, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennie Earl, resident, spoke to the bill.
Rachel Williams, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass S.B. 105 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
3.H.B. 161 School Bus Route Amendments (Matthews, A.)
Sen. Kwan presented the bill.
Ben Horsley, superintendent, Granite School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass H.B. 161 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. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
4.H.B. 204 Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program Amendments (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
Adrienne Kennett, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass H.B. 204 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. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
5.1st Sub. H.B. 260 First Credential Program (Peterson, V.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill with the assistance of Rich Nye, Senior Advisor, Governor's Office.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 260 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 260.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Utah First Credential - HB 260 S1
Crystal Young, lobbyist, Utah Music Educators Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 260 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. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to place 2nd Substitute H.B. 260 on the Consent Calendar.The motion failed with a vote of 3-3-1.
Yeas - 3Nays- 3Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
6.1st Sub. H.B. 344 School Fees Amendments (Strong, M.A.)
Rep. Strong presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 344 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 203 through 206 :  Line 203 through 206
203204205206

2 .        Line 208 through 210 :  Line 208 through 210
208 209210

Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
Royce Van Tassel spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennie Earl spoke in favor of the bill.
Debroah Gatrell, teacher, Granite School District, spoke in support of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 344 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 3:54 p.m.
NOTE: S.B. 0232, S.B. 0249 were not discussed in the meeting.