MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 • 1:30 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. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Rep. Doug Welton

Members Absent:
Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck
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 Defay called the meeting to order at 1:39 p.m.
1.S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments(Johnson, J.)
Sen. John Johnson presented the bill.
Rep. Walter assumed the chair.
Sandra Buendia, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Sara Jones, Director of Government Relations, Utah Education Association, spoke against the bill.
Jennie Jonsson, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Carol Lear, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), spoke against the bill.
Rebecca Kirkman, resident, spoke against the bill.
Maryann Christensen, Utah Legislative Watch, spoke in favor of the bill.
Pam Pedersen, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
Matt Hymas, Chair, USBE, spoke against the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to pass SB0312 out favorably.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to go to the next item on the agenda.The substitute motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
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. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
2.1st Sub. S.B. 322 Educational Technology Regulatory Sandbox(Johnson, J.)
Sen. Johnson presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass SB0322S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-9.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 9
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. J. Thompson
3.2nd Sub. S.B. 267 Software in Education Amendments(Cullimore, K. A.)
Sen. Kirk Cullimore presented the bill.
Liz Jenkins, on behalf of Matt Palmer, spoke in favor of the bill.
April Barton, resident, spoke in favor of the bill.
McCall Shoff, resident, spoke to the bill.
Rebecca Kirkman, resident, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to amend SB0267S02 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Amendment 1

1 .        Line 182 through 188 :  Line 182 through 188
182183184185186187188

Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to pass SB0267S02 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. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
4.1st Sub. S.B. 296 Student Consent Amendments(Cullimore, K. A.)
Sen. Cullimore presented the bill.
Heidi Alder, Weber School District, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass SB0296S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
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. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
5.1st Sub. S.B. 324 Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Framework(Musselman, C.R.)
Sen. Calvin Musselman presented the bill.
Kade Minchey, Legislative Auditor General, further clarified the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Karen Peterson moved to pass SB0324S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. D. Welton
6.S.B. 312 Educator License Amendments(Johnson, J.)
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to replace SB0312 with SB0312S01.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to pass SB0312S01 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 7-3-5.
Yeas - 7Nays- 3Abs- 5
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. A. Defay
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. T. Miller
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. S. Hayes
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
MOTION:Rep. Welton moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-1-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 1Abs- 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. D. Welton
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. N. Peck
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Chair Walter adjourned the meeting at 3:14 p.m.