MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • 4:00 p.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. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci

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 4:15 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to approve the February 17, 2026, minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
1.H.B. 426 Online Education Service Provider Amendments(Walter, N.)
Rep. Walter presented the bill.
Royce Van Tassell, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
Karen Latham, Utah Home-education Organizations for Parental Empowerment (U-Hope), spoke against the bill.
Chair Defay raised a point of order.
Nina Wolf, U-Hope, spoke to the bill.
Amy Oswald, homeschool parent, spoke to the bill.
Tiana McCall, parent, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to replace HB0426 with HB0426S01.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass HB0426S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
2.H.B. 524 Public Education Financial Officers(Walter, N.)
HB524 handout
Rep. Walter presented the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke to the bill.
Matthew Keyes, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to amend HB0524 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Amendment 1

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

2 .        Line 95 through 101 :  Line 95 through 101
9596979899100101

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass HB0524 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
3.S.B. 75 Educator Salary Adjustment Eligibility(Musselman, C.R.)
Sen. Calvin Musselman presented the bill with the assistance of Marie Evans, registered nurse.
Rep. Walter assumed the chair.
Sara Jones, Director, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Shaylee Evans, teacher, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass SB0075 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
4.H.B. 462 School Bus Internet Access(Auxier, T.)
Rep. Auxier presented the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke to the bill.
Matthew Keyes, superintendent, Grand County School District, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to pass HB0462 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to cease to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Chair Walter called the meeting back to order at 5:43 p.m.
5.1st Sub. S.B. 69 School Device Revisions(Fillmore, L.)
SB0069 handout
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore presented the bill.
Lindsay Butrum, The Policy Project, spoke in favor of the bill.
Aimee Winder Newton, Director of the Utah Office of Families, spoke in favor of the bill.
Avery Gonzales, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kathleen Barlow, Smartphone Free Childhood, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Sanchez, Tame Your Tech, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rachel Stephenson Robins, teacher, spoke in favor of the bill.
Michelle Linford, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to pass SB0069S01 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to replace SB0069S01 with SB0069S02.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 4-7-4.
Yeas - 4Nays- 7Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
The motion by Rep. Defay to pass SB0069S01 out favorablypassed with a vote 8-3-4.
Yeas - 8Nays- 3Abs- 4
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
6.H.J.R. 8 Joint Resolution Regarding LEA Reporting Requirements(Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton presented the joint resolution.
MOTION:Rep. Auxier moved to pass HJR008 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-8.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
7.H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications(Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to hold HB0502.The motion failed with a vote of 4-5-6.
Yeas - 4Nays- 5Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to replace HB0502 with HB0502S02.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass HB0502S02 out favorably.
A vote on the motion was not placed due to a quorum not being present.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-10.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 10
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 6:56 p.m.