MINUTES OF THE
EDUCATION INTERIM COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 • 8:30 a.m. • 110 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Rep. R. Neil Walter, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Chris H. Wilson
Rep. Tiara Auxier
Rep. Ariel Defay
Rep. Joseph Elison
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Clinton D. Okerlund
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Michael L. Kohler

Staff Present:
Finn Andrew Rose, Managing Policy Analyst
Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst
Mike Curtis, Managing Associate General Counsel
Tyler Keetch, Associate General Counsel
Jeff Van Hulten, Associate General Counsel
Amy Hawkes, Administrative Assistant

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Walter called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
1.Committee Business
1 - First Credential Master Plan (Utah State Board of Education (USBE))
1 - Utah First Credential Master Plan Memo (USBE)
1 - First Credential Master Plan One Pager (USBE)
Finn Rose gave the committee a quick overview of the First Credential Program and where the required report materials can be found.
2.Legislative Audit: Best Practice Handbook for Student Achievement
2 - PRESENTATION: The Best Practice Handbook for Student Achievement in Public Education (Office of the Legislative Auditor General (OLAG))
2 - AUDIT: The Best Practice Handbook For Student Achievement in Public Education (OLAG)
Darin Underwood, Deputy Auditor General, Tanner Cox, Lead Performance Auditor, and Rebecca Manning, Legislative Performance Auditor, Office of the Legislative Auditor General (OLAG), shared information from the Best Practice Handbook for Student Achievement in Public Education and the process they went through to create the handbook. They also answered committee questions.
3.Committee Business
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to approve the minutes of the October 15, 2025, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. A. Defay
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. S. Hayes
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Okerlund
Rep. K. Peterson
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Sen. C. Wilson
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
4.Legislative Audits: Sensitive Materials in Schools and School Library Books
3 - PRESENTATION: A Performance Audit of Sensitive Materials in Schools and A Review of School Library Books (OLAG)
3 - AUDIT: A Performance Audit of Sensitive Materials in Schools (OLAG)
3 - AUDIT: A Review of School Library Books (OLAG)
Leah Blevins, Audit Manager, and Morgan Hagey, Lead Performance Auditor, OLAG, went through the process for completing the audits, shared recommendations based on the findings from the audits, and answered committee questions.
3 - Response to the "Sensitive Materials in Schools and School Library Books" Audit (Utah State Board of Education (USBE))
Dr. Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, and Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), gave an overview of the current process for pulling instructional materials from schools and responded to the findings and recommendations from the audits. They also answered committee questions.
5.Draft Legislation: Local Education Agency Financial Reporting
4 - Draft legislation "Local Education Agency Financial Reporting" (V006) (T. Keetch)
Tyler Keetch explained 2026 General Session draft legislation "Local Education Agency Financial Reporting."
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to favorably recommend as a committee bill "Local Education Agency Financial Reporting."The motion passed with a vote of 15-0-4.
Yeas - 15Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Okerlund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
6.Draft Legislation: Online Education Service Provider Funding and Oversight
5 - Draft legislation "Online Education Service Provider Funding and Oversight" (V007) (J. Van Hulten)
Jeff Van Hulten explained 2026 General Session draft legislation "Online Education Service Provider Funding and Oversight" and answered committee questions.
Lexi Cunningham, Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association, thanked the committee for slowing down the process for the bill and engaging with all of the stakeholders.
7.Draft Legislation: Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors
6 - Draft legislation "Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors" (V008) (M. Curtis)
Rep. Auxier explained 2026 General Session draft legislation "Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors" and answered committee questions.
Jennie Earl, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to favorably recommend as a committee bill "Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors."The motion passed with a vote of 13-2-4.
Yeas - 13Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Sen. C. Wilson
Rep. C. Moss
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. M. Kohler
Rep. C. Okerlund
Rep. C. Pierucci
8.Draft Legislation: Public Education Revisions
7 - Draft legislation "Public Education Revisions" (V003) (M. Curtis)
Mike Curtis explained 2026 General Session draft legislation "Public Education Revisions."
Elisse Newey helped answer a committee question.
LeAnn Wood, Vice Chair, USBE, helped answer a committee question.
MOTION:Rep. Auxier moved to favorably recommend as a committee bill "Public Education Revisions."The motion passed with a vote of 14-2-3.
Yeas - 14Nays- 2Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Okerlund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. M. Kohler
Sen. C. Wilson
9.Draft Legislation: School Attendance Modifications
8 - Draft legislation "School Attendance Modifications" (V007) (J. Van Hulten)
Rep. Welton explained 2026 General Session draft legislation "School Attendance Modifications" and answered committee questions.
10.Draft Legislation: Education Testing Amendments
9 - Draft legislation "Education Testing Amendments" (V007) (T. Keetch)
Rep. Lisonbee introduced Matt Throckmorton, former legislator and advocate, explained 2026 General Session draft legislation "Education Testing Amendments," and answered committee questions.
11.Survey Results: Student Participation in High School Sports
Rep. Katy Hall introduced the agenda item.
10 - Utah High School Sports Policies Survey (Rep. Katy Hall)
Finn Rose quickly went through the high school sports policies survey results.
Rick Corbridge, Athletic Director, Bonneville High School, shared his experience working in high school sports.
12.Working Group on School Violence
11 - Youth and School Data Working Group Presentation (Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ))
Van Nguyen, Director, Juvenile Justice Policy and Research, Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), shared data from a working group that looked at sharing youth data between schools.
13.Other Items/Adjourn
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 6
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Okerlund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. M. Kohler
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. J. Thompson
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m.