MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 20, 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. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson

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 Walter called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.
1.H.C.R. 13 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Technical Education(Dominguez, R.)
Rep. Rosalba Dominguez presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass HCR013 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-8.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
2.H.B. 463 Special Education Funding Modifications(Miller, T.)
HB463 handout
HB463 Bill Summary
Rep. Miller presented the bill with the assistance of Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education.
Nate Crippes, Disability Law Center, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lori Kopasz, special education teacher, speaking on her own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brent Bills, Washington School District, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to hold HB0463.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass HB0463 out favorably.
Rep. Elison withdrew the substitute motion.
The motion by Rep. MacPherson to hold HB0463passed with a vote 7-5-3.
Yeas - 7Nays- 5Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
3.2nd Sub. H.B. 502 School Attendance Modifications(Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton presented the bill.
Heidi Alder, General Counsel, Weber School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to replace HB0502S02 with HB0502S03.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. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass HB0502S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
4.S.B. 131 Charter School Eligibility(Balderree, H.)
Sen. Heidi Balderree presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass SB0131 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend SB0131 with Amendment #1.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 21 through 33 :  Line 21 through 33
21222324252627282930313233

2 .        Line 60 through 70 :  Line 60 through 70
6061626364656667686970

Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass SB0131 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 10-1-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
5.1st Sub. H.B. 334 Educator Organization Amendments(Monson, L.)
Rep. Logan Monson presented the bill.
Sara Jones, Director, Utah Education Association, spoke to the bill.
Brad Asay, President, American Federation-Teachers (AFT) Utah, spoke against the bill.
Danica Puente, teacher, speaking on her own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennifer Partridge, Joint Legislative Committee of the Utah School Boards Association, and Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to pass HB0334S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson motioned to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Chair Walter called the meeting back to order.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to adjourn.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. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 9:49 a.m.
NOTE: 02nd Substitute S.B. 0077 was not discussed in the meeting.