MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

Thursday, January 22, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building

Members Present: Rep. R. Neil Walter, Chair Rep. Ariel Defay, Vice Chair Rep. Tiara Auxier Rep. Joseph Elison Rep. Sahara Hayes Rep. Matt MacPherson Rep. Tracy J. Miller Rep. Carol S. Moss Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck Rep. Karen M. Peterson	Rep. Candice B. Pierucci Rep. Jason E. Thompson Rep. Doug Welton Members Absent: Rep. Karianne Lisonbee Rep. Val L. Peterson Staff Present: Finn Rose, Managing 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 Walter called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.

Committee members introduced themselves.

MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to approve the March 4, 2025 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.

Yeas - 10 Nays- 0 Abs- 5

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson

1.H.B. 146 Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Program Amendments(Pierucci, C.)

HB 146 handout

HB 146

Rep. Pierucci presented the bill with the assistance of Molly Hart, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah State Board of Education.

Piper Riddle, Executive Director, Northern Utah Educational Services, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to pass HB0146 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.

Yeas - 10 Nays- 0 Abs- 5

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson

2.H.B. 143 Special Education Amendments(Peterson, K.)

Rep. Peterson presented the bill.

MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to pass HB0143 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.

Yeas - 10 Nays- 0 Abs- 5

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci

3.H.B. 55 Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors(Auxier, T.)

Rep. Auxier presented the bill with the assistance of Jennie Earl, Utah State Board of Education.

Allie Terry, Child First Policy Center, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to amend HB0055 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.

Amendment 1

1 . Line 3 through 9 : Line 3 through 9
3456789

2 . Line 17 through 23 : Line 17 through 23
17181920 212223

3 . Line 57 through 63 : Line 57 through 63
57585960616263

4 . Line 75 through 83 : Line 75 through 83
757677787980 818283

Yeas - 11 Nays- 0 Abs- 4

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci

MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass HB0055 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.

Yeas - 11 Nays- 0 Abs- 4

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci

MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to place HB0055 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.

Yeas - 11 Nays- 0 Abs- 4

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci

4.H.B. 75 American Indian and Alaska Native Education Amendments(Watkins, C.)

Rep. Christine Watkins presented the bill.

Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Boards Association, and Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke in favor of the bill.

Martin Munoz, Voices for Utah Children, spoke in favor of the bill.

MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to pass HB0075 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-1-4.

Yeas - 10 Nays- 1 Abs- 4

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci

MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.

Yeas - 11 Nays- 0 Abs- 4

Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci

Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 3:09 p.m.

NOTE: H.B. 0241, H.B. 0031 were not discussed in the meeting.

Yeas - 10	Nays- 0	Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier Rep. A. Defay Rep. S. Hayes Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton		Rep. J. Elison Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. N. Peck Rep. V. Peterson

Yeas - 11	Nays- 0	Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. K. Peterson Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton		Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci

Yeas - 10	Nays- 1	Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton	Rep. N. Peck	Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci