MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 19, 2026 • 4:00 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
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 04:13 PM.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes from the February 13, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 2-0-5.
Yeas - 2Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Sen. Hinkins assumed the chair.
1.S.B. 295 Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government(Johnson, J.)
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to replace SB0295 with SB0295S01.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
Sen. Johnson presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to amend SB0295S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 405 through 411 :  Line 405 through 411
405406407408409410411

2 .        Line 1059 through 1065 :  Line 1059 through 1065
1059106010611062106310641065
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
Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education, spoke to the bill.
Brad Asay, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Utah, spoke to the bill.
Gabe Byars, resident, spoke to the bill.
Sydney O'Shay, President, USU Chapter, AFT, spoke to the bill.
Nicole Allen, USU Chapter, AFT, spoke to the bill.
Heidi Alder, General Counsel and Government Liaison, Weber County School District, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0295S01 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
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
2.S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments(Cullimore, K. A.)
SB 267 Handout
Sen. Kirk Cullimore presented the bill.
Chair Johnson resumed the chair.
Olivia A., child safety advocate, spoke to the bill.
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), spoke to the bill.
Allie Terry, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
Makenzi Sheeran, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Angie McFarland, mother, Draper, spoke in favor of the bill.
Collin Terry, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jaynie Osmond, student, spoke in favor of the bill.
Johnny Thackery, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
April Barton, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sarah Sanchez, Founder, Tame Your Tech, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to replace SB0267 with SB0267S01.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-2.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 2
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass SB0267S01 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. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
3.S.B. 297 School Social Worker Amendments(Buss, E.)
Sen. Emily Buss presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to replace SB0297 with SB0297S01.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. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, USBE, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass SB0297S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-2-2.
Yeas - 3Nays- 2Abs- 2
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
4.1st Sub. H.B. 126 Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments(Defay, A.)
Rep. Ariel Defay presented the bill.
Jon England, Education Policy Analyst, Libertas Institute, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0126S01 out favorably.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
5.H.B. 310 School Reintegration Plan Amendments(Romero, A.)
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace HB0310 with HB0310S01.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. C. Wilson
Rep. Angela Romero presented the bill with the assistance of Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0310S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
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
6.H.B. 142 School Fee Waiver Amendments(Welton, D.)
Rep. Doug Welton presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0142 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
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
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to place HB0142 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
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
7.H.B. 177 ROTC Resident Student Status(Koford, J.)
Rep. Jill Koford presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to amend HB0177 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
Amendment 2

1 .        Line 40 through 44 :  Line 40 through 44
4041424343a43b44
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
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0177 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-1.
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
8.H.B. 246 Local Government Drug Testing Amendments(Maloy, A. Cory)
Rep. A. Cory Maloy presented the bill with the assistance of David Kitchen, Human Resource Director, Lehi City.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0246 out favorably.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. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to place HB0246 on the Consent Calendar.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. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe 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. K. Riebe
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. C. Wilson
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 05:56 PM.