MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
Sen. Heidi Balderree
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe

Members Absent:
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
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 at 08:04 AM.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes from the February 13, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Yeas - 3Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
1.S.B. 271 High School Activities Governance(Grover, K.)
Sen. Keith Grover presented the bill with the assistance of Nathan Crane, Attorney, Spencer Fane.
Matt Hymas, Chair, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Cole Kelley, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Rob Cuff, Executive Director, Utah High School Activities Association, spoke to the bill.
Luke Rasmussen, Superintendent, Ogden City School District, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Carol B. Lear, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Todd Quarnberg, Utah Association of Secondary School Principals, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Nicole Wigton, resident, Draper, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kim Monkres, Principal, Crimson Cliffs High School, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ryan Bishop, Principal, Wasatch High School, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Ryan Judd, Athletic Director, Waterford School, spoke to the bill.
Todd Dawson, Principal, Lone Peak High School, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Michelle Barber, School Board Member, Utah High School Activities Association (USHAA), Board of Trustees, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to hold SB0271.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
2.H.B. 351 School Vision Screening Amendments(Nguyen, H.)
Rep. Hoang Nguyen presented the bill.
Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair.
Julia DeLeeuw, Friends for Sight, spoke in favor of the bill.
Chair Johnson resumed the chair.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0351 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
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
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to place HB0351 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
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
3.S.B. 272 Transportation Funding Revisions(Balderree, H.)
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to replace SB0272 with SB0272S01.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. Balderree presented the bill with the assistance of Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools.
Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, spoke to the bill.
Julie Jackson, resident, Granite School District, spoke in opposition of the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass SB0272S01 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
4.S.B. 291 Student Transportation Amendments(Buss, E.)
Sen. Emily Buss presented the bill.
Zac Huish, City Council, Eagle Mountain City, spoke in favor of the bill.
Julie Jackson, resident, Granite School District, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass SB0291 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 2-2-3.
Yeas - 2Nays- 2Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. D. Hinkins
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 09:29 AM.