MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 13, 2026 • 2:00 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
Zoe Adams, Committee Secretary
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 02:11 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to approve the minutes from February 12, 2026.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
1.S.B. 253 Library Materials Amendments(McKell, M.)
Sen. McKell presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to amend SB0253 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 150 through 156 :  Line 150 through 156
150151152153154155156
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
Christy Giblon, President, Provo Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Tamar Watson, Director of Communications, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mark Clement, Utah School Boards Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Deborah Gatrell, teacher, spoke in favor of the bill.
Daniel Neville-Rehbehn, Chair, Utah Library Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Katherine Paterson, Utah Library Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Scott Bernier, Vice President, Library and Government Relations, EBSCO Information Services, spoke in favor of the bill.
Corinne Johnson, President, Utah Parents United, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass SB0253 out favorably.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to hold SB0253.The motion failed with a vote of 2-3-2.
Yeas - 2Nays- 3Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass SB0253 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 2
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
2.H.B. 146 Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Program Amendments(Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Candice Pierucci presented the bill.
H.B, 146.pdf
Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
David Bell, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Partridge, President, Provo School Board, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0146 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
3.S.B. 118 Mental Health Services in Higher Education(Plumb, J.)
Sen. Jen Plumb presented the bill.
S.B. 118.pdf
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace SB0118 with SB0118S01.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
Rick Atkin, CEO, Trula, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Katie Mazzie, Associate Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education, spoke to the bill.
MaryAnn Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke to the bill.
Celesta Lyman, Nutrition teacher, spoke to the bill.
Andrew Richey, Lead Coach, Trula, spoke to the bill.
Alexis Allcott, Wellness Coach Coordinator, Trula, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
4.H.B. 143 Special Education Amendments(Peterson, K.)
Rep. Karen Peterson presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to replace HB0143 with HB0143S01.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0143S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-0.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 0
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
5.S.B. 268 Religious Curriculum in Schools(Weiler, T.)
Sen. Todd Weiler presented the bill with the assistance of Michael Erickson, resident.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to amend SB0268 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 100 through 107 :  Line 100 through 107
100101102103104105106107
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
Bill Duncan, Sutherland Institutes, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennie Earl, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Julie Jackson, resident, Granite School Board, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Deborah Gatrell, teacher, spoke in opposition to the bill.
David Bell, teacher, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kim DelGrosso,Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Joseph Kerry, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Victoria Little, Wyoming resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Trevor Dykes, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Carole Michel, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sara Jones, Utah Education Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass SB0268 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 1-5-1.
Yeas - 1Nays- 5Abs- 1
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass SB0268 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-1.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 1
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
6.S.B. 269 School Board Meeting Notification Requirements(Weiler, T.)
Sen. Todd Weiler presented the bill with the assistance of Melanie Mortensen, resident.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to amend SB0269 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 7 through 13 :  Line 7 through 13
78910111213

2 .        Line 22 through 28 :  Line 22 through 28
222324252627 28

3 .        Line 47 through 63 :  Line 47 through 63
4748495051525354555657585960 616263
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah School Boards Association, spoke to the bill.
Jennie Earl, resident, spoke to the bill.
Royce Van Tassel, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke to the bill.
John Larsen, Business Administrative, Jordan School District, spoke to the bill.
Jennifer Partridge, resident, spoke to the bill.
Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass SB0269 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to adjourn.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 2-3-2.
Yeas - 2Nays- 3Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass SB0269 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 2
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.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. C. Wilson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 4:27 PM.