MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 24, 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
Sen. Chris H. Wilson

Members Absent:
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore

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 08:07 AM.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to approve the minutes from the February 19, 2026 meeting.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
1.1st Sub. H.B. 293 Public Education Student Athlete Protections(Hall, K.)
Rep. Katy Hall presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to amend HB0293S01 with Senate Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 10 through 16 :  Line 10 through 16
10111213141516

2 .        Line 41 through 47 :  Line 41 through 47
41424344454647

3 .        Line 91 through 96 :  Line 91 through 96
919293949596

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
Jan Whittaker, Assistant Director, Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA), spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0293S01 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2.
Yeas - 4Nays- 1Abs- 2
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. H. Balderree
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. C. Wilson
2.H.C.R. 11 Resolution Urging Healthy Activities in Schools(Hall, K.)
Rep. Katy Hall presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HCR011 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
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to place HCR011 on the Consent Calendar.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
3.2nd Sub. H.B. 150 School-based Speech-language Pathologist Funding Amendments(Koford, J.)
Rep. Jill Koford presented the bill.
Sara Jones, Director, Utah Education Association (UEA), spoke in favor of the bill.
Cassen Williams, Speech Language Pathologist, Jordan School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0150S02 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
4.1st Sub. H.B. 448 Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind Amendments(Whyte, S.)
Rep. Whyte presented the bill with the assistance of LeAnn Wood, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Molly Hart, Superintendent, USBE.
HB 448 handout
Alisa Ensign, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
Matt Hymas, Chair, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), spoke in favor of the bill.
Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0448S01 out favorably.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
MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to saunter.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
5.H.B. 353 Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments(Wilcox, R.)
Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0353 out favorably.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
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.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
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 09:06 AM.