| 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. Jason E. Thompson Rep. Doug Welton Members Absent: Rep. Val L. Peterson Rep. Candice B. Pierucci 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 3:44 p.m. |
| MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to approve the January 30, 2026, minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. K. Peterson Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| 1.1st Sub. H.B. 218 Digital Skills Amendments(Teuscher, J.) |
| HB218S01 handout |
| Rep. Jordan Teuscher presented the bill. |
| Phyllis Kimpel, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Dan Petersen, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Heather Woffinden, teacher, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Sarah Coyne, university professor, speaking on her own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to amend HB0218S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6. | |||
|
Amendment 1
505152535455565758596061626364656667 |
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. J. Elison Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. A. Defay Rep. S. Hayes Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to pass HB0218S01 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. J. Elison Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. A. Defay Rep. S. Hayes Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| 2.H.B. 204 Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation(Petersen, M.) |
| HB204S01 handout |
| Rep. Mike Petersen presented the bill with the assistance of Robin Wilson, law professor. |
| Stan Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Katie Mazzie, Utah System of Higher Education, spoke to the bill. |
| Rick McDonald, university professor, speaking on his own behalf, spoke against the bill. |
| Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Phyllis Kimpel, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Brad Asay, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Utah, spoke against the bill. |
| Gabe Byars, resident, spoke against the bill. |
| Brianne Kramer, AFT Utah College Council, spoke against the bill. |
| Joe LaSure, resident, spoke against the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to replace HB0204 with HB0204S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass HB0204S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-1-6. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. C. Moss | Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| 3.H.B. 312 Civics Education Modifications(Ivory, K.) |
| HB312 handout |
| Rep. Ken Ivory presented the bill with the assistance of David Barton, Founder, WallBuilders. |
| Jen Brown, Why I Love America, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Jennie Earl, Utah State School Board Member, speaking on her own behalf, spoke to the bill. |
| Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Phyllis Kimpel, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Jennifer Partridge, President, Provo School Board, spoke to the bill. |
| Elisse Newey, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill. |
| Dalane England, teacher, speaking on her own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Michelle Linford, speaking on her own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Linda Smith, League of Women Voters, 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 11-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. A. Defay Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| 4.H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum(Ivory, K.) |
| HB317S01 handout |
| Rep. Ivory presented the bill. |
| Todd Quarnberg, high school principal, speaking on his own behalf, shared additional information on the bill. |
| Julie Scherzinger, public education administrator, speaking on her own behalf, provided additional information on the bill. |
| Daxton Cutler, high school student, speaking on his own behalf, shared personal experiences pertinent to the bill. |
| David Kozlowski, marriage and family therapist, provided additional clarification on the bill. |
| Chelsea Hagman, elementary school librarian, speaking on her own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Jennie Earl, Utah State School Board Member, speaking on her own behalf, spoke to the bill. |
| Camilo Gomez, teacher, speaking on his own behalf, spoke to the bill. |
| Corinne Johnson, Utah Parents United, spoke to the bill. |
| Crystal Young, resident, speaking on her own behalf, spoke to the bill. |
| Tiana McCall, on behalf of the Utah School Social Work Association, and the Utah Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Kevin Labresh, President Elect of the Utah Association of School Psychologists, speaking on his own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to replace HB0317 with HB0317S01.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. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to amend HB0317S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
|
Amendment 1
134135136137138139140141142143 |
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| 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. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to hold HB0317S01. |
| SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to pass HB0317S01 out favorably as amended.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 8-4-3. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 4 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. D. Welton | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. R. Walter | Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| 5.H.B. 298 School Design Amendments(Christofferson, K.) |
| Rep. Kay Christofferson presented the bill. |
| Joylin Lincoln, Alpine School Board Member, speaking on her own behalf, spoke against the bill. |
| Lexi Cunningham, on behalf of the Utah School Superintendents Association, and the Utah School Boards Association, spoke against the bill. |
| Shawn Benjamin, Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, spoke to the bill. |
| MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to amend HB0298 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3. | |||
|
Amendment 1
125126127128129130131132133134135 |
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| 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. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to pass HB0298 out favorably as amended.The motion failed with a vote of 4-8-3. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 8 | Abs- 3 | |
| Rep. A. Defay Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson | Rep. T. Auxier Rep. J. Elison Rep. S. Hayes Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to adjourn.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. K. Lisonbee Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. N. Peck Rep. J. Thompson Rep. R. Walter Rep. D. Welton | Rep. K. Peterson Rep. V. Peterson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 6:14 p.m. |