MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 26, 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 8:09 a.m.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to approve the February 24, 2026, minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-8.
Yeas - 7Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
1.H.B. 315 Human Growth and Development Instruction(Peck, N.)
HB0315 handout 1
HB0315 handout 2
Rep. Peck presented the bill.
Noah Brandt, Live Action, provided additional information on the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, and Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Julie Jackson, resident, spoke against the bill.
Phyllis Kimpel, Worldwide Organization for Women, spoke in favor of the bill.
Brittany Breneman, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, spoke against the bill.
Mary Taylor, Pro-Life Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Katharine Caldwell, family physician, spoke against the bill.
Teri McCabe, resident, spoke to the bill.
Aimee Warren, Utah Parent Teacher Association, spoke to the bill.
Molly Hart, State Superintendent, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to replace HB0315 with HB0315S01.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to amend HB0315S01 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 26 through 31 :  Line 26 through 31
262728293031

2 .        Line 39 through 46 :  Line 39 through 46
394041 4243444546
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass HB0315S01 out favorably as amended.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Moss moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 5-6-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 6Abs- 4
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
The motion by Rep. Lisonbee to pass HB0315S01 out favorably as amendedpassed with a vote 6-5-4.
Yeas - 6Nays- 5Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
2.S.B. 186 Charter School Base Funding Amendments(Balderree, H.)
Sen. Heidi Balderree presented the bill.
Kim Frank, Utah Charter Network, provided additional clarification on the bill.
Cynthia Phillips, Utah Charter Network, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass SB0186 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
3.S.B. 216 Higher Education Performance and Enrollment Funding(Millner, A.)
Sen. Ann Millner presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass SB0216 out favorably.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. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to saunter.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-5.
Yeas - 8Nays- 2Abs- 5
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to cease to saunter.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
Chair Walter called the meeting back to order.
4.S.B. 54 Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore presented the bill.
Ronnie Daniel, Executive Director, Children First Education Fund, provided additional information on the bill.
Cheryl Smith, mother of Carson Smith, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to pass SB0054 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
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. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
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. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 9:47 a.m.