MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 25, 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. Kathleen A. Riebe

Members Absent:
Sen. Michael K. McKell
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 8:02 a.m.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes for February 20, 2025.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
1.1st Sub. H.B. 447 Statewide Catalyst Campus Model (Schultz, M.)
Rep. Schultz presented the bill.
Statewide Catalyst Campus Model Presentation - H.B. 447
Diane Livingston, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mary Catherine Perry, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Associate Executive Director, Utah School Board Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Corinne Johnson, President, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Crystal Young, lobbyist, Utah Music Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sydnee Dickson, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah State Board of Education spoke in favor of the bill.
Gayle Ruzicka, President, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Luke Searle, business instructor, Wasatch Center for Advanced Professional Studies, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sierra Nelson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 447 out favorably.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
2.S.B. 308 Dual Language Immersion Amendments (McCay, D.)
Sen. McCay presented the bill with the assistance of Howard Stevenson, resident, and Christopher Lewis, chair, Department of World Languages & Cultures, University of Utah.
Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair.
Sen. Johnson resumed the chair.
Stephen Lee, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass S.B. 308 out favorably.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
3.2nd Sub. H.B. 157 Energy Education Amendments (Jack, C.)
Rep. Jack presented the bill with the assistance of Harry Hanson, Deputy Director of Programs, Utah Office of Energy Development.
Nathaniel Johnson, Executive Director, Utah Rural Electric Cooperative Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rikki Hrenko-Browning, President, Utah Petroleum Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 157 out favorably.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
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to place 2nd Substitute H.B. 157 on the Consent Calendar.
Sen. Hinkins withdrew the motion.
4.H.B. 142 Service Member and Veteran Amendments (Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Teuscher presented the bill.
Service Member Veteran Amendments Handout - H.B. 142
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass H.B. 142 out favorably.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
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to place H.B. 142 on the Consent Calendar.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
5.1st Sub. H.B. 191 High School Credit Amendments (Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Tuscher presented the bill.
High School Credit Amendments Handout - H.B. 191
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 191 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 191.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
Alison D. Bond, North Ridge Academy, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Erin Day, teacher, Herriman High School, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 191 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
6.S.B. 307 Education Legislative Committee Amendments (Stratton, K.)
Sen. Stratton presented the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, spoke to the bill.
Julie Jackson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass S.B. 307 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
7.2nd Sub. H.B. 281 Health Curriculum and Procedures Amendments (Gricius, S.)
Rep. Gricius presented the bill with the assistance of Aaron Fischer, co-director, Utah School Mental Health Collaborative.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace 2nd Substitute H.B. 281 with 3rd Substitute H.B. 281.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
Tanner Hone, resident, spoke to the bill.
Gayle Ruzicka, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kimberly Applewhite, resident spoke in opposition of the bill.
Larisa Archuleta, resident, spoke in opposition of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 3
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 281 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
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 9:59 a.m.