MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 • 8:00 a.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 8:10 a.m.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes.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
1.H.B. 228 Public Education Immunization Amendments (Lisonbee, K.)
Rep. Lisonbee presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to pass H.B. 228 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
2.H.B. 265 Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill with the assistance, Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to amend H.B. 265 with Amendment #3.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Amendment 3

1 .        Line 216 through 218a :  Line 216 through 218a
216217217a218218a

2 .        Line 219 through 221 :  Line 219 through 221
219220221

3 .        Line 250 through 255 :  Line 250 through 255
250251252253254 255

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
Kelvyn H. Cullimore, CEO, BioUtah, spoke in favor of the bill.
John England, Education Policy Analyst, Libertas Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Crossant, Utah College Council of American Confederation of Teachers, spoke in favor of the bill.
Krystal Young, lobbyist, Utah Music Educators Association and UAA, spoke to the bill.
Robert Schmidt, resident, spoke to the bill.
Brianne Kramer, ACLU, Utah Board of Directors, spoke to the bill.
Joseph Silverzweig, UAA and Utah Music Educators Association, spoke to the bill.
John Meisner, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to pass H.B. 265 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-0.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 0
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. K. Riebe
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to amend H.B. 265 with Amendment #4.The motion failed with a vote of 1-5-1.
Amendment 4

1 .        Line 92 through 94 :  Line 92 through 94
929394

2 .        Line 216 through 218a :  Line 216 through 218a
216217217a218218a

3 .        Line 219 through 221 :  Line 219 through 221
219220221

Yeas - 1Nays- 5Abs- 1
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
3.S.B. 249 Student Integration Amendments (Cullimore, K. A.)
Sen. Cullimore presented the bill with the assistance of Susan Edwards, Public Engagement Coordinator, Canyon School District.
Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair.
Brett Peterson, director, Utah Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass S.B. 249 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. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. J. Johnson
4.H.B. 184 School Trust Land Amendments (Miller, T.)
Rep. Miller presented the bill.
Cade Douglas, superintendent, Sevier School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass H.B. 184 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to place H.B. 184 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Acting Chair Hinkins adjourned the meeting at 9:20 a.m.
NOTE: S.B. 0205 was not discussed in the meeting.