MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 27, 2025 • 8:00 a.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci, Chair
Rep. Michael L. Kohler, Vice Chair
Rep. Tiara Auxier
Rep. Ariel Defay
Rep. Joseph Elison
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. Tracy J. Miller
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Jefferson Moss
Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. R. Neil Walter
Rep. Douglas R. Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Val L. Peterson

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 8:04 a.m.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to approve the February 25, 2025 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
1.H.B. 545 School District Governance Agreements (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Karen Peterson presented the bill.
Tom Henriod, parent, spoke to the bill.
Mike Harman, President, Salt Lake Education Association, spoke against the bill.
Elizabeth Florence, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
Raina Williams, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to amend H.B. 545 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 23 through 25 :  Line 23 through 25
232425
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 3
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. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass H.B. 545 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 11-2-3.
Yeas - 11Nays- 2Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
2.H.B. 453 State School Board Transparency Amendments (Brooks, W.)
Rep. Walt Brooks presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to replace H.B. 453 with 1st Substitute H.B. 453.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. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 453 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-3-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 3Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
3.H.B. 397 School Fee Waiver Amendments (Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton presented the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Boards Association, and Utah Superintendents Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend H.B. 397 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 37 through 42 :  Line 37 through 42
373839404142
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend H.B. 397 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 29 through 31 :  Line 29 through 31
293031

2 .        Line 42 through 44 :  Line 42 through 44
424344
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass H.B. 397 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
4.2nd Sub. S.B. 188 School District Modifications (Grover, K.)
Rep. Stephanie Gricius presented the bill with the assistance of Julie King, Alpine School District Board of Education.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michelle Stallings, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Stacy Bateman, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ada Wilson, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to replace 2nd Substitute S.B. 188 with 4th Substitute S.B. 188.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. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to amend 4th Substitute S.B. 188 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 376 through 381 :  Line 376 through 381
376377378379380381
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend 4th Substitute S.B. 188 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-4.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 763 through 769 :  Line 763 through 769
763764765766767768769

2 .        Line 984 through 986 :  Line 984 through 986
984985986

3 .        Line 1007 through 1009 :  Line 1007 through 1009
100710081009

4 .        Line 1019 through 1021 :  Line 1019 through 1021
101910201021

5 .        Line 1025 through 1026 :  Line 1025 through 1026
1025 1026

6 .        Line 1167 through 1170 :  Line 1167 through 1170
1167116811691170
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass 4th Substitute S.B. 188 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. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
5.2nd Sub. S.B. 170 School Discipline Amendments (Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill.
Julie Jackson, school board member, spoke to the bill.
Maryann Christensen spoke in favor of the bill.
Nate Crippes, Disability Law Center, spoke to the bill.
Craig Merrill, resident, spoke to the bill.
Diane Livingston, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Leah Voorhies, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to amend 2nd Substitute S.B. 170 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 257 through 259 :  Line 257 through 259
257258259

2 .        Line 322 through 324 :  Line 322 through 324
322323324
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to amend 2nd Substitute S.B. 170 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 311 through 313 :  Line 311 through 313
311312313
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to pass 2nd Substitute S.B. 170 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-5.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Chair Kohler adjourned the meeting at 9:53 a.m.