MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, January 26, 2026 • 2:00 p.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
Cassie Sudekum, 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 02:10 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to approve the minutes from the January 21, 2026 meeting.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
1.S.B. 131 Charter School Eligibility (Balderree, H.)
Sen. Balderree presented the bill.
Tamra Watson, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to pass SB0131 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
2.SB0062 - School Funding Amendments
Sen. Fillmore presented the bill.
Todd Hauber, Business Administrator, Granite School District, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to pass SB0062 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-2-1.
Yeas - 4Nays- 2Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to move to the next item on the agenda.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 2-4-1.
Yeas - 2Nays- 4Abs- 1
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. Balderree assumed the chair.
3.S.B. 34 Public Education Revisions(Johnson, J.)
Sen. Johnson presented the bill with the help of Matt Hymas, Chair, Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Darin Nielsen, Assistant Superintendent, USBE.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to replace SB0034 with SB0034S01.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
Tiana McCall, National Association of Social Workers, Utah Chapter, spoke in opposition to bill.
Tanner Hone, Utah School Social Work Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass SB0034S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
4.S.B. 164 School Construction Amendments(Wilson, C.)
Sen. Wilson presented the bill with the assistance of Jim Russell, Former Director, Division of Facilities Construction and Management (DFCM), Andy Marr, Division Director, DFCM, and Marvin Dodge, Executive Director, Utah Department of Government Operations.
SB 164 Bill Analysis
Complete List of Audit Report
Chair Johnson resumed the chair.
Lexi Cunningham, Associate Executive Director, Utah School Boards Association, spoke to the bill.
Justin Naegle, Director, Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Department, Granite School District, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Allen Rice, Architectural Services Manager, AEC, Granite School District, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Richard Tregeagle, Construction Services Manager, AEC, Granite School District, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jennie Earl, USBE board member, spoke to the bill.
Aaron Metcalfe, Vice President, Hogan and Associates Construction, spoke to the bill.
Joey Gilbert, President, Associated General Contractors of Utah, spoke to the bill.
Shawn Benjamin, Government Affairs Committee, American Institute of Architects, spoke to the bill.
Joe McAllister, General Counsel, Hughes General Contractors, spoke to the bill.
Tracy Taylor, Wasatch Taxpayers Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass SB0164 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-2-0.
Yeas - 5Nays- 2Abs- 0
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
5.S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration(McKell, M.)
Sen. McKell presented the bill with Angie Stallings, Deputy Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to amend SB0152 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 79 through 82 :  Line 79 through 82
79808182
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0152 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
6.S.B. 77 Dual Language Immersion Amendments(McCay, D.)
Sen. Daniel McKay presented the bill with the assistance of Howard Stephenson, Former Senator.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to replace SB0077 with SB0077S01.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. Balderree moved to pass SB0077S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 2-1-4.
Yeas - 2Nays- 1Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
7.S.B. 167 Reintegration for Disciplined Students(McCay, D.)
Sen. McKay presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to amend SB0167 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 107 through 114 :  Line 107 through 114
107108109110111112113114

2 .        Line 136 through 145 :  Line 136 through 145
136137138139140141142143144145
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
Pamaela Vickrey, Chair, Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.
Susan Edwards, Canyon School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0167 as amended 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
8.S.B. 81 Dyslexia Testing Amendments(Plumb, J.)
Sen. Plumb presented the bill with the assistance of Karee Atkins, parent.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to replace SB0081 with SB0081S02.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
Kathy Tenny, Utah Literacy Coalition, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Stroup, Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kim Fratto, USBE, spoke to the bill.
Danielle Housman, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0081S02 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
9.S.B. 104 School Medication Amendments(Plumb, J.)
Sen. Plumb presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0104 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 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 05:06 PM.
NOTE: S.B. 0118, S.B. 0126 were not discussed in the meeting.