| Members Present: Sen. Heidi Balderree, Senate Chair Rep. Stephen L. Whyte, House Chair Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, Senate Vice Chair Rep. Matt MacPherson, House Vice Chair Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. John D. Johnson Sen. Ann Millner Rep. Tiara Auxier Rep. Steve Eliason Rep. Tracy J. Miller Rep. Carol S. Moss | Rep. Candice B. Pierucci Rep. Jason E. Thompson Members Absent: President J. Stuart Adams Sen. Luz Escamilla Rep. Walt Brooks Staff Present: Ben Leishman, Finance Manager Rachelle Gunderson, Senior Financial Analyst Kiki Hudson, Financial Analyst Jennifer Kunzler, 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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| 1.Call to Order/Approval of Minutes - February 4, 2026 |
| Chair Balderree called the meeting to order at 8:10 AM. |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes from the February 4, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Rep. S. Eliason Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. S. Whyte | Sen. J. Adams Rep. T. Auxier Rep. W. Brooks Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. J. Johnson Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson |
| 2.USBE Final Remarks |
| 2. USBE Final Remarks and Prioritized Funding |
| Matt Hymas, Chair, State Board of Education (USBE), Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, USBE, LeAnn Wood, Vice Chair, USBE, gave a presentation on the USBE Final Remarks. |
| Chair Balderree expressed appreciation to the board for their collaboration and willingness to work with the committee. |
| 3.Requests for Appropriations |
| 3a. Rural Utah Student Initiative RFA |
| Sen. Hinkins gave a presentation with the assistance of Brooks Heder, Educator, Rural Utah Initiative, gave a presentation on the RFA Rural Utah Student Initiative. |
| 3b Suicide Prevention Grant Awards RFA |
| Rep. Eliason gave a presentation on the RFA Suicide Prevention Grant Awards. |
| Sen. Johnson added clarity to the bill that Rep. Eliason spoke about. |
| 3c. Arts Education Funding for Utah Schools RFA |
| 3c. BTS Arts Potential Growth Chart |
| 3c. BTS Legislative Flyer |
| 3c. Casey Pickett Statement BTS |
| 3c. Parent Survey + UDOE Analysis Legislative Flyer |
| Rep. Miller with assistance from Lisa Cluff, Executive Director, BTS Art Works for Kids, Kellie Mudrow, Lead Director, BTS and Syracuse Arts Academy, and Jennifer Bodell, Educator, Granite School District, gave a presentation on the RFA Arts Education Funding for Utah Schools. |
| Sen. Fillmore asked for clarification on the amount asked. Lisa Cluff responded. |
| Sen. Johnson acknowledged the need for student creativity and expressed appreciation for the request. |
| 3d. Restore one time funding promised to LEAs to help mitigate loss RFA |
| Rep. Miller gave a presentation on the RFA to restore one time funding promised to LEAs to help mitigate loss of school fees. |
| 3e. Opinion-The Future Belongs To Those Who Can lead Handout |
| 3e. K-12 Durable Skills Education Initiative Handout |
| 3e. K-12 Durable Skills Education Initiative Presentation |
| 3e. K-12 Durable Skills Education Initiative RFA |
| Rep. Thompson with assistance of Brett Crane, Professor, Utah State University, Eddie Jensen, student, USU, and Tyler Roberts, Program Coordinator, Steven R. Covey Leadership Center, USU, gave a presentation on the RFA K-12 Durable Skills Education Initiative. |
| 3f. Family Empowerment Catalog |
| 3f. Just Right Reader packet |
| Rep. Doug Welton with the assistance of Sara Rich, Founder, Just Right Reader, gave a presentation on the RFA Science of Learning Family Literacy Packs. |
| 3j. HB 329 Handout |
| 3j. HB 329 Presentation |
| 3j. State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments HB0329 RFA |
| Rep. Ariel Defay with the assistance of Emily Bell McCormick, President, The Policy Project, gave a presentation on the RFA State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments. |
| MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. S. Whyte | Sen. J. Adams Rep. T. Auxier Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Eliason Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. J. Johnson Sen. A. Millner Rep. J. Thompson |
| MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to cease to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8. | |||
| Yeas - 8 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 8 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. D. Hinkins Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. S. Whyte | Sen. J. Adams Rep. T. Auxier Rep. W. Brooks Rep. S. Eliason Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. J. Johnson Sen. A. Millner Rep. J. Thompson |
| 3k. Student Credential Account (SCA) Statewide Usage RFA |
| Sen. Derrin Owens with assistance from Dan Hemmert, Youth Sciences, gave a presentation on the RFA Student Credential Account (SCA) Statewide Usage. |
| 3g. Education Reimbursement for Critically Ill Children RFA |
| 3g. Education Resources for Hospitalized Children |
| Rep. Stephanie Pitcher and Brenda Burr, School Services Manager, Primary Children's Hospital, gave a presentation on the RFA Education Reimbursement for Critically Ill Children. |
| 3h. ParentABLE Utah Statewide Expansion RFA |
| Rep. Pitcher with assistance of Linda Spira, Development Manager, ParenTeach Institute, gave a presentation on the RFA ParentABLE Utah Statewide Expansion. |
| 3l. Local Food for Schools RFA |
| Sen. Kirk Cullimore with assistance of Gina Cornia, Utahns Against Hunger, gave a presentation on the RFA Local Food for Schools. |
| 3m. School District Funding Amendments Handout |
| 3m. School District Funding Amendments Presentation |
| 3m. School District Funding Amendments SB0189s01 RFA |
| Sen. Emily Buss with assistance of Julie King, Board President, Lake Mountain School District, gave a presentation on the RFA School District Funding Amendments SB 189. |
| Sen. Balderree expressed appreciation for this idea and added her concern about the rapid population growth. |
| 3i. 3DE by Junior Achievement - Aligning Education and Industry to Prepare Students for a Changing Economy RFA |
| Rep. Defay with the assistance of Julie Hoth, Junior Achievement, gave a presentation on the RFA 3DE by Junior Achievement: Aligning Education and Industry to Prepare Students for a Changing Economy. |
| 3q. Educator Salary Adjustment Eligibility SB0075s01 RFA |
| Sen. Calvin Musselman with the assistance of Marie Evans, Nurse Supervisor, Weber School District, gave a presentation on the RFA Educator Salary Adjustment Eligibility SB 75 sub 1. |
| 3r. Youth Resilience Program RFA |
| 3r. Utah Alliance of B&GC Youth Resilience Program |
| Sen. Musselman with the assistance of David Bayless, CEO, Utah Boys and Girls Club Utah County, James Ebert, CEO, Boys and Girls Club Weber/Davis County, and Janelle Jeffries, CEO, Boys and Girls Club Northern Utah, gave a presentation on the RFA Youth Resilience Program. |
| Sen. Balderree asked for clarification on TANF funding. Sen. Musselman responded. |
| Rep. Thompson expressed appreciation and support for the Boys and Girls Club. |
| 3p. School District Division Costs RFA |
| Sen. Brady Brammer with assistance from Jennifer Lyman, Board President, Timpanogas School District, Julie King, Board President, Lake Mountain School District, Diane Knight, Board President, Aspen Peaks School District, gave a presentation on the RFA School District Division Costs. |
| Sen. Fillmore asked for clarification on the amount of money the Alpine School District has in the Public Treasures Investment Fund and also asked for amounts on how much unrestricted carry forward the district has. Julie King and Sen. Brammer responded. |
| 3o. Murray Partners 4 Prevention Coalition Presentation |
| 3o. Murray Partners 4 Prevention Coalition RFA |
| 3o. Communities That Care Cost Example |
| Rep. Dominguez with assistance from Tori Jensen, Coalition Youth Advisor, Murray Coalition and Sheri VanBibber, Director, Murray Coalition, gave a presentation on the RFA Murray Partners 4 Prevention Coalition. |
| 3n. Mis Raices Foundation of Allan Moreno RFA |
| 3n. Mis Raices Statement |
| 3n. Mis Raices Foundation of Allan Moreno Link |
| Rep. Dominguez with the assistance of Iliana Masias, committee member, Mis Raices, gave a presentation on the RFA Mis Raices Foundation. |
| Students from The Esperanza School performed 'America the Beautiful.' |
| Rep. Dominguez and Iliana Masias continued the presentation. |
| Rep. MacPherson expressed appreciation for the Mariachi music. |
| 3t. Primary and Secondary Education Amendments HB0399 RFA |
| Rep. Dominguez with assistance from Clive Romney, Executive Director, Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts, and Merrill Dodge, Theatrical Director, Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts, gave a presentation on the RFA Great Salt Lake S.O.S. |
| Sen. Balderee expressed appreciation for the presentation. |
| 4.Final FY 26 & FY 27 Budget Issues |
| 4. Federal Funds Increase Supplemental FY26 and Ongoing FY27 |
| Kiki Hudson gave a presentation on Final FY 27 and FY 27 Budget Issues. |
| 5.Funding Item Requests & Motion Sheet |
| 5a. Subcommittee Combined 5% Reduction Options_2026GS_Public |
| 5b. Subcommittee Combined Increase Options |
| Ben Leishman gave a presentation on Funding Item Requests. |
| Rep. Miller asked for clarification on the handouts. Ben Leishman responded. |
| 5c. PED Budget Motions_2026GS |
| Rachelle Gunderson gave a presentation on the Proposed Motions |
| Rep. Miller asked for clarification on where the materials are posted. Rachelle Gunderson and Ben Leishman responded. |
| 6.Requests for Appropriations |
| 3s. Primary and Secondary Education Amendments HB0399 RFA |
| Rep. Trevor Lee gave a presentation on the RFA Primary and Secondary Education Amendments HB 399. |
| 7.Other Business |
| Sen. Balderree expressed appreciation to all those who presented. |
| MOTION:Rep. Whyte moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Rep. S. Eliason Sen. L. Fillmore Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Moss Rep. J. Thompson Rep. S. Whyte | Sen. J. Adams Rep. T. Auxier Rep. W. Brooks Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Rep. C. Pierucci |
| Chair Balderree adjourned the meeting at 10:18 AM. |