MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • 8:00 a.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 Defay called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to approve the February 12, 2026, minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
1.H.B. 129 Education Board Amendments(Thurston, N.)
Rep. Norm Thurston presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to replace HB0129 with HB0129S01.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass HB0129S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to place HB0129S01 on the Consent Calendar.The motion failed with a vote of 8-1-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
2.H.B. 364 Certified Teacher Librarian Amendments(Arthur, J.)
Rep. John Arthur presented the bill with the assistance of Gretchen Zaitzeff, District Library Media Specialist, Canyons School District.
Rebekah Cummings, Utah Library Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rep. Walter assumed the chair.
Teresa Thompson, Utah Library Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Stephanie Jones, former school librarian, spoke in favor of the bill.
Shanna Lewis, certified teacher librarian, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sara Jones, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tammy Flake, resident, spoke against the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Boards Association, and Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Katherine Paterson, Utah Library Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to hold HB0364.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
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. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
3.1st Sub. H.B. 467 Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications(Pierucci, C.)
HB0467 handout
Rep. Pierucci presented the bill.
Karen Latham, Utah Home-education Organizations for Parental Empowerment Coalition, spoke against the 2nd substitute of the bill.
Melanie Mortensen, Utah Parents United, spoke against the 2nd substitute of the bill.
Nina Wolf, homeschooling parent, spoke to the bill.
Marika Connole, homeschool parent, spoke against the 2nd substitute of the bill.
Adrea Lund, resident, spoke against changes to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to replace HB0467S01 with HB0467S03.The motion passed with a vote of 14-0-1.
Yeas - 14Nays- 0Abs- 1
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. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass HB0467S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-2-1.
Yeas - 12Nays- 2Abs- 1
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. A. Defay
4.S.B. 152 Public and Higher Education Collaboration(McKell, M.)
Sen. Mike McKell presented the bill with the assistance of Angie Stallings, Deputy Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education.
Rep. Pierucci assumed the chair.
Rep. Defay resumed the chair.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass SB0152 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-5.
Yeas - 8Nays- 2Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
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. D. Welton
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Chair Defay adjourned the meeting at 9:57 a.m.
NOTE: H.B. 0426, H.B. 0462 were not discussed in the meeting.