MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 6, 2026 • 3:40 p.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
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. Riebe moved to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
1.S.B. 240 Higher Education Institutional Governance(Wilson, C.)
Sen. Wilson presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to replace SB0240 with SB0240S01.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education, spoke to the bill and answered questions from the committee.
MOTION:Sen. Wilson moved to pass SB0240S01 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. C. Wilson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
2.S.B. 169 High School Graduation Amendments(Plumb, J.)
Sen. Jen Plumb presented the bill.
SB 169 High School Graduation Amendments
Mike Harman, Salt Lake City School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tiana McCall, School social worker, spoke in favor of the bill.
Shannalee Otanez, Education Advisor, Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to pass SB0169 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 2
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
3.S.B. 189 School District Funding Amendments(Buss, E.)
Sen. Emily Buss presented the bill with assistance from Julie King, School Board President, Lake Mountain School District.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to replace SB0189 with SB0189S01.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. Buss Slides
SB 189 Handout
Carly Ferrin, Saratoga Springs resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chris Scott, Magna resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brandon Engles, Vice President, Alpine Education Association (AEA), spoke in favor of the bill.
Edon Davenport, parent, Saratoga Springs, spoke in favor of the bill.
Hyrum Sasser, resident, Eagle Mountain, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass SB0189S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
4.S.B. 232 Regulatory Impacts on Families(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. McKell assumed the chair.
Sen. Fillmore presented the bill.
Karson Eilers, Policy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns, spoke to the bill.
Seth Stewart, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to pass SB0232 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Johnson resumed the chair.
5.S.B. 241 Early Literacy(Millner, A.)
Sen. Ann Millner presented the bill with the assistance of Brandi Webster, Principal, Mona Elementary.
Lexi Cunningham, Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Janel Doll, Research Fellow, Center for the School of the Future, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mary Catherine Perry, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Salt Lake Chamber, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rich Nye, Senior Advisor of Education, Governor's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sara Jones, Utah Education Association, spoke to the bill.
Parker Fawson, Director, Center for the School of the Future, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kodey Hughes, Superintendent, Juab School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Caroyln Sharette, American Prep Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
Liberty Nelson spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0241 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-1-0.
Yeas - 6Nays- 1Abs- 0
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. H. Balderree
6.H.B. 55 Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors(Auxier, T.)
Rep. Tiara Auxier presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass HB0055 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Fillmore
7.H.B. 75 American Indian and Alaska Native Education Amendments(Watkins, C.)
Rep. Christine Watkins presented the bill.
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0075 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Fillmore
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to place HB0075 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Fillmore
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. L. Fillmore
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting.
NOTE: H.C.R. 004 was not discussed in the meeting.