| Members Present: Rep. R. Neil Walter, Chair Rep. Ariel Defay, Vice Chair Rep. Tiara Auxier Rep. Joseph Elison Rep. Sahara Hayes Rep. Karianne Lisonbee Rep. Matt MacPherson Rep. Tracy J. Miller Rep. Carol S. Moss Rep. Karen M. Peterson | Rep. Val L. Peterson Rep. Candice B. Pierucci Rep. Jason E. Thompson Rep. Doug Welton Members Absent: Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck Staff Present: Finn Rose, Managing Policy Analyst Tisha Gibby, Committee Secretary |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Walter called the meeting to order at 2:12 p.m. |
| MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to approve the January 22, 2026 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. C. Pierucci |
| 1.H.B. 142 School Fee Waiver Amendments(Welton, D.) |
| Rep. Welton presented the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to amend HB0142 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
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Amendment 1
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| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. N. Peck Rep. C. Pierucci |
| MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass HB0142 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. N. Peck Rep. C. Pierucci |
| 2.H.B. 106 School Attendance Changes(Stoddard, A.) |
| Rep. Andrew Stoddard presented the bill. |
| Amanda Bollinger, Utah State Board of Education, provided additional information on the bill. |
| Jennifer Stout, Voices for Utah Children, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1. | |||
| Yeas - 14 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 1 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. N. Peck |
| 3.H.B. 163 Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program Amendments(Wilcox, R.) |
| Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill with the assistance of Luke Rasmussen, Superintendent, Ogden School District. |
| MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to pass HB0163 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-2. | |||
| Yeas - 13 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 2 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. N. Peck |
| Rep. Defay assumed the chair. |
| 4.H.B. 227 Student Journalist Amendments(Moss, C.) |
| HB0227 handout |
| Rep. Moss presented the bill with Milan Venegas, university student. |
| Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke against the bill. |
| Sara Jones, Utah Education Association, spoke to the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to go to the next item on the agenda. |
| SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to table HB0227.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 9-3-3. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 3 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson | Rep. S. Hayes Rep. C. Moss Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. N. Peck Rep. R. Walter |
| 5.H.B. 279 Higher Education Code Amendments(Peterson, V.) |
| Rep. Val Peterson presented the bill. |
| Katie Mazzie, Utah System of Higher Education, spoke to the bill. |
| Audrey Perry Martin, on behalf of Brigham Young University, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to replace HB0279 with HB0279S01.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. N. Peck Rep. K. Peterson Rep. R. Walter |
| MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass HB0279S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. N. Peck Rep. R. Walter |
| 6.H.B. 299 School Response to Sexual Offense(Matthews, A.) |
| Rep. Ashlee Matthews presented the bill. |
| Benjamin Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, provided additional information on the bill. |
| Benjamin Horsley, on behalf of Granite School District, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass HB0299 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. N. Peck Rep. R. Walter |
| MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. N. Peck Rep. R. Walter |
| Chair Defay adjourned the meeting at 3:49 p.m. |