MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 12, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Members Absent:
Sen. Michael K. McKell

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 at 8:10:54 AM.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to approve the minutes from the February 6, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
1.2nd Sub. H.B. 279 Higher Education Code Amendments(Peterson, V.)
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to amend HB0279S02 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 459 through 470 :  Line 459 through 470
459460461462463464465466467468469470

Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Rep. Val Peterson presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0279S02 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
2.S.B. 244 Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in Schools(Stevenson, J.)
Sen. Jerry Stevenson presented the bill with the assistance of Hannah Randall, Government Relations Director, Utah American Heart Association.
Kim Lowe, School Nurse Supervisor, Alpine School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Shaye Johnson, Miss Rocky Mountain, American Heart Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Amy Mitchell, resident, Washington County, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0244 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
3.H.C.R. 4 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Religious Freedom(Petersen, M.)
Rep. Michael Petersen presented the bill.
Stan Rasmussen, Vice President of Government Affairs, Sutherland Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rachel Williams, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dalane England, Vice President, United Women's Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HCR004 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3.
Yeas - 3Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
4.S.B. 180 School Nutrition Amendments(Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace SB0180 with SB0180S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Neil Rickard, Child Nutrition Advocate, Utahns Against Hunger, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tamra Watson, Director of Communications, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS), spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass SB0180S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
5.S.B. 181 School Discipline Amendments(Escamilla, L.)
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace SB0181 with SB0181S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. Escamilla presented the bill.
Alisha Hadden, parent, Jordan School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Alan Norton, parent, Box Elder School District, spoke to the bill.
Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Supervising Attorney, Disability Law Center (DLC), spoke in favor of the bill.
Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0181S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
6.H.B. 163 Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
Piper Riddle, Executive Director, Northeastern Utah Educational Services (NUES), spoke in favor of the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0163 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 9:12:44 AM.