MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Friday, February 27, 2026 • 4:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. R. Neil Walter, Chair
Rep. Ariel Defay, Vice Chair
Rep. Tiara Auxier
Rep. Sahara Hayes
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Matt MacPherson
Rep. Tracy J. Miller
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Joseph Elison
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 4:34 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Auxier moved to approve the February 26, 2026, minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-9.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 9
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
1.2nd Sub. S.B. 34 Public Education Revisions(Johnson, J.)
Sen. John Johnson presented the bill.
LeAnn Wood, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), spoke in favor of the bill.
Shalyce Rauhala, resident, spoke to the bill.
Tanner Hone, Utah School Social Work Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to replace SB0034S02 with SB0034S03.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to amend SB0034S03 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 843 through 849 :  Line 843 through 849
843844845846847848849
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass SB0034S03 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
2.2nd Sub. S.B. 181 School Discipline Amendments(Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill.
Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, USBE, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ben Horsley, Granite School District, spoke in favor of the bill.
Andrew Riggle, Public Policy Advocate, Disability Law Center, spoke to the bill.
Elisse Newey, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, USBE, provided additional information.
Krisanne Lewis, Student Services Coordinator, USBE, further clarified the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Thompson moved to pass SB0181S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
3.1st Sub. S.B. 240 Higher Education Institutional Governance(Wilson, C.)
Sen. Chris Wilson presented the bill.
Geoff Landward, Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), provided additional information on the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Miller moved to pass SB0240S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. S. Hayes
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. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
4.1st Sub. S.B. 241 Early Literacy(Millner, A.)
Sen. Ann Millner presented the bill with the assistance of Brandi Webster, Principal, Mona Elementary School.
Erin Longacre, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Janet Nerdin, resident, spoke to the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association, and Utah School Boards Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mary Catherine Perry, Utah Chamber, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rich Nye, Senior Advisor to Governor Cox, spoke in favor of the bill.
Royce Van Tassell, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Defay moved to pass SB0241S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
5.S.B. 268 Religious Curriculum in Schools(Weiler, T.)
Rep. Auxier presented the bill with the assistance of Michael Erickson, resident.
Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke in favor of the bill.
Joseph Kerry, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Joann Brinton, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jon Poll, resident, spoke against the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend SB0268 with Amendment #5.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Amendment 5

1 .        Line 108 through 121 :  Line 108 through 121
108109110111112113114115116117117a118119120121

2 .        Line 123 through 140 :  Line 123 through 140
123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass SB0268 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
6.1st Sub. H.B. 407 Public Education Information System(MacPherson, M.)
Rep. MacPherson presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to replace HB0407S01 with HB0407S02.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass HB0407S02 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
7.1st Sub. H.B. 518 School Curriculum Amendments(Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peck moved to pass HB0518S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 6:28 p.m.