MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, January 29, 2026 • 2:00 p.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe

Members Absent:
Sen. David P. Hinkins
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.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to approve the minutes from the January 26, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
1.S.B. 123 Privacy and Cybersecurity Amendments(Harper, W.)
Sen. Wayne Harper presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to replace SB0123 with SB0123S01.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Nathan Lunstad, Director, Utah Division of Drinking Water, spoke in favor of the bill.
David Bowman, Systems and Security Manager, Jordan School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Phil Bates, State Chief Information Security Officer, spoke in favor of the bill.
Spencer Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer, Utah Education and Telehealth Network, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0123S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
2.S.B. 186 Charter School Base Funding Amendments(Balderree, H.)
Sen. Balderree presented the bill with the assistance of Kim Frank, Executive Director, Utah Charter Network.
SB 186 Handout
Marie Steffensen, Interim Director, State Charter School Board, spoke in favor of the bill.
Nathan Marshall, Executive Director, Providence Hall Charter School, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cynthia Phillips, Charter School Administrator, spoke in favor of the bill.
Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass SB0186 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to hold SB0186.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 1-4-2.
Yeas - 1Nays- 4Abs- 2
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
3.S.B. 56 Citizenship Education Amendments(Riebe, K.)
Sen. Riebe presented the bill.
Linda Smith, Vice President of Program, League of Women Voters of Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melissa Pledger, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jess Rabner, University of Utah, law student, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
4.S.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution to Initiate a Law School at Utah Valley University(Brammer, B.)
Sen. Brady Brammer presented the bill with the assistance of Frank Pignanelli, Utah State Bar.
Rachel Williams, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Allie Terry, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass SJR008 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
5.S.B. 56 Citizenship Education Amendments(Riebe, K.)
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to amend SB0056 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 3 through 13 :  Line 3 through 13
345678910111213

2 .        Line 22 through 29 :  Line 22 through 29
2223242526272829

3 .        Line 47 through 57 :  Line 47 through 57
4748495051525354555657

Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0056 as amended out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-3-2.
Yeas - 2Nays- 3Abs- 2
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting.
NOTE: S.B. 0126, S.B. 0207 were not discussed in the meeting.