MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, January 30, 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. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. Tracy J. Miller
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Doug Welton

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 2:07 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to approve the January 27, 2026 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
1.H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments(Romero, A.)
Rep. Angela Romero presented the bill.
Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, provided additional information on the bill.
Susan Edwards, Canyons School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Moss moved to amend HB0310 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 49 through 58 :  Line 49 through 58
49505152535455565758
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Moss moved to pass HB0310 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
2.H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments(Miller, T.)
Rep. Miller presented the bill with the assistance of Paula Plant, Director, School Children's Trust, Utah State Board of Education.
Charlotte Fife-Jepperson, Salt Lake City School District, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
3.H.B. 241 Charter School Amendments(Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Pierucci presented the bill.
Anthony Sudweeks, CEO, Wallace Stegner Public Schools, spoke to the bill.
Kim Frank, Utah Charter Network, spoke in favor of the bill.
Charlotte Fife-Jepperson, Salt Lake City School District, spoke to the bill.
Tamra Watson, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kory Holdaway, on behalf of the cities of Kearns and Magna, spoke to the bill.
Justin Lee, Deputy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke to the bill.
Marcos Lopez, ExcelinEd in Action, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Val Peterson moved to replace HB0241 with HB0241S02.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. Val Peterson moved to pass HB0241S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-4-3.
Yeas - 8Nays- 4Abs- 3
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
4.1st Sub. H.B. 150 School-based Speech-language Pathologist Funding Amendments(Fillmore, L.)
Rep. Jill Koford presented the bill with the assistance of Sarah Cox, speech-language pathologist.
Kory Holdaway, on behalf of the Utah Speech-Language and Hearing Association (USHA), spoke in favor of the bill.
Renee Pinkney, President, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Christine Ferrario, speech-language pathologist, spoke to the bill.
Cassen Williams, speech-language pathologist, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to pass HB0150S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-2-2.
Yeas - 11Nays- 2Abs- 2
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Peterson
5.H.B. 177 ROTC Resident Student Status(Koford, J.)
Rep. Koford presented the bill.
Major David Flores, on behalf of the Army ROTC at Weber State University, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to amend HB0177 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 39 through 46 :  Line 39 through 46
3940414243 444546
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 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. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to pass HB0177 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 12-2-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 2Abs- 1
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. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
6.1st Sub. H.B. 234 Education Testing Amendments(Lisonbee, K.)
Rep. Lisonbee presented the bill with the assistance of Matt Throckmorton, advocate.
Brooke Anderson, K12 Data Scientist, speaking on her own behalf, spoke to the bill.
Shannon Neeley, special education teacher, speaking on her own behalf, spoke to the bill.
Marcos Lopez, ExcelinEd in Action, spoke against the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass HB0234S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-6-1.
Yeas - 8Nays- 6Abs- 1
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
7.H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections(Hall, K.)
HB293 handout
Utah High School Sports Policies Survey Results
Rep. Katy Hall presented the bill with Richard Corbridge, high school athletic director, speaking on his own behalf.
Luke Rasmussen, Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA), and Superintendent, Ogden School District, spoke to the bill.
Rob Cuff, Executive Director, UHSAA, spoke to the bill.
Todd Dawson, high school principal, and Region Chair of UHSAA, spoke to the bill.
Dina Kohler, high school principal, speaking on her own behalf, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Auxier moved to amend HB0293 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 43 through 49 :  Line 43 through 49
43444546474849
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to pass HB0293 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 12-2-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 2Abs- 1
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
8.H.B. 351 School Vision Screening Amendments(Nguyen, H.)
Rep. Hoang Nguyen presented the bill with the assistance of Jamie Justice, Executive Director, Friends for Sight.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend HB0351 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 115 through 125 :  Line 115 through 125
115116117118119120121122123124125
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass HB0351 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 5:12 p.m.
NOTE: H.B. 0227 was not discussed in the meeting.