MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 • 2:00 p.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. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci

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 2:07 p.m.
MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to approve the February 27, 2026, minutes.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. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. D. Welton
1.1st Sub. S.B. 180 School Nutrition Amendments(Escamilla, L.)
Sen. Luz Escamilla presented the bill.
Neil Rickard, Utahns Against Hunger, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Auxier moved to hold SB0180S01.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Hayes moved to pass SB0180S01 out favorably.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 3-6-6.
Yeas - 3Nays- 6Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
The underlying motion by Rep. Auxier to hold SB0180S01passed with a vote 8-1-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 1Abs- 6
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
2.S.B. 167 Reintegration for Disciplined Students(McCay, D.)
Sen. Daniel McCay presented the bill with the assistance of Susan Edwards, Canyons School District, and Michael Anderson, Jordan School District.
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to amend SB0167 with Amendment #6.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Amendment 6

1 .        Line 111a through 128 :  Line 111a through 128
111a112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128

2 .        Line 133 through 139 :  Line 133 through 139
133134135136137138139

3 .        Line 142 through 152 :  Line 142 through 152
142143144145146147148149150151152

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. MacPherson moved to pass SB0167 out favorably as amended.The motion passed with a vote of 6-4-5.
Yeas - 6Nays- 4Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
3.S.B. 269 School Board Meeting Notification Requirements(Weiler, T.)
Sen. Todd Weiler presented the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association (USSA), and Utah School Boards Association (USBA), spoke against the bill.
Jennifer Partridge, Provo City School District, spoke against the bill.
Melanie Mortensen, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to hold SB0269.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
4.3rd Sub. S.B. 119 School and Classroom Amendments(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore presented the bill.
Molly Hart, State Superintendent for Public Instruction, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill.
Amanda Bollinger, speaking on her own behalf, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rebecca Kirkman, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to replace SB0119S03 with SB0119S04.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. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to hold SB0119S04.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to pass SB0119S04 out favorably.The substitute motion failed with a vote of 5-7-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 7Abs- 3
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
The underlying motion by Rep. Elison to hold SB0119S04passed with a vote 7-5-3.
Yeas - 7Nays- 5Abs- 3
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
5.3rd Sub. S.B. 62 School Finance Amendments(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Fillmore presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass SB0062S03 out favorably.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. K. Peterson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
6.1st Sub. S.B. 85 Excellence in Education and Leadership Supplement Modifications(Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Fillmore presented the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, USSA, and USBA, spoke to the bill.
Marcos Lopez, ExcelinEd in Action, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to hold SB0085S01.The motion passed with a vote of 12-1-2.
Yeas - 12Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
7.S.B. 65 Minimum Basic Tax Rate Amendments (Fillmore, L.)
Sen. Fillmore introduced the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-2.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 2
Rep. T. Auxier
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. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 3:49 p.m.