| Members Present: Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair Sen. Heidi Balderree Sen. David P. Hinkins Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe Members Absent: | Sen. Lincoln Fillmore Sen. Michael K. McKell Sen. Chris H. Wilson Staff Present: Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst Cassie Sudekum, Committee Secretary |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 04:23 PM. |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes from the February 24, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. K. Riebe Sen. C. Wilson |
| 1.H.B. 352 Higher Education Alignment(Peterson, K.) |
| Rep. Karen Peterson presented the bill with the assistance of Geoff Landward, Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education. |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0352 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| Sen. Balderree assumed the chair. |
| 2.S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments(Johnson, J.) |
| Sen. Johnson presented the bill. |
| Bonnie Billings, Utah Education Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Kass Harstad, parent, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Jamie Renda, Chair, Path Forward Utah, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Jennifer Partridge, Vice President, Utah School Boards Association, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Corrine Johnson, President, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Pam Pedersen, retired educator, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Carol Lear, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Jennie Jonsson, prosecutor, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Brad Asay, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Utah, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Joseph Kerry, resident, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to pass SB0312 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-1-2. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 2 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Sen. C. Wilson | Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell |
| 3.1st Sub. H.B. 145 School Excused Absence Amendments(Albrecht, C.) |
| Rep. Carl Albrecht presented the bill. |
| Chair Johnson resumed the chair. |
| Myah Cobbley, student, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Jennifer Partridge, President, Provo City School District Board, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Ben Horsley, Superintendent, Granite School District, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0145S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-1-3. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson | Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| 4.2nd Sub. H.B. 144 School Community Council Amendments(Miller, T.) |
| Rep. Tracy Miller presented the bill with the assistance of Paula Plant, Director, Utah State Board of Education. |
| HB 144 Handout |
| Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0144S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| 5.H.B. 194 Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments(Hayes, S.) |
| Rep. Sahara Hayes presented the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to amend HB0194 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3. | |||
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Amendment 2
168169170171172173174175176176a |
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| Joseph Kerry, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to pass HB0194 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| Rep. Jordan Teuscher presented the bill. |
| 6.1st Sub. H.B. 218 Digital Skills Amendments(Teuscher, J.) |
| HB 218 Handout |
| Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Lexi Cunningham, Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass HB0218S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 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 saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3. | |||
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| 7.1st Sub. H.B. 204 Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation(Petersen, M.) |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to amend HB0204S01 with Amendment #2.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-3. | |||
|
Amendment 2
93949595a969798 |
| Yeas - 4 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 3 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| Rep. Michael Petersen presented the bill with the assistance of Robin Wilson, University of Illinois. |
| Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Rick McDonald, professor, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Heather Gooch, resident, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Maryann Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill. |
| Sean Crossland, American Federation of Teachers, Utah College Council, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| Tyler Coward, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), spoke to the bill. |
| Brianne Kramer, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Southern Utah University, spoke in opposition to the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0204S01 as amended out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 2-1-4. | |||
| Yeas - 2 | Nays- 1 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. J. Johnson | Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| 8.3rd Sub. H.B. 42 School Cybersecurity Amendments(Wilcox, R.) |
| Rep. Ryan Wilcox presented the bill. |
| MOTION:Sen. Balderree moved to pass HB0042S03 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 3-0-4. | |||
| Yeas - 3 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 4 | |
| Sen. H. Balderree Sen. J. Johnson Sen. K. Riebe | Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. M. McKell Sen. C. Wilson |
| Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 06:43 PM. |