HB 246 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Statewide Online Education Program Amendments

HB 246 enhances accountability and transparency in Utah's Statewide Online Education Program. It requires the State Board of Education to publish annual report cards for online course providers, including student test scores, completion rates, and satisfaction survey results. The bill mandates a centralized registration system for parents and students to enroll in courses and establishes standardized reporting on course quality, such as student completion timelines and teacher-to-student ratios. These changes directly affect parents, students, and online course providers by making program performance more visible and accessible, with no new state funding required.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Mar 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates the Statewide Online Education Program to enhance quality control and transparency by mandating sample audits, standardized performance report cards, and a centralized registration system. It also clarifies the state board's authority to delay rule changes until after the school year ends and establishes new standards for course accreditation and instructor licensing. These changes aim to ensure online courses meet state academic standards and provide better data for parents and schools to monitor student progress.

Scope change

The bill expands the state board's oversight powers to include mandatory sample audits and site visits, while also clarifying that providers cannot set minimum course durations or class sizes.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the state board to conduct sample audits of online courses and publish results on a report card.

Mandates a centralized registration system that automatically shares enrollment data between parents, students, and providers.

Establishes new standards requiring national athletic organization endorsements for certified providers and prohibits setting minimum course durations.

TIMELINE

Clarifies that rule changes affecting school programs must have a delayed effective date until after the school year ends.

Updates the effective date of the bill from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, for the creation of a communication dashboard.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 27, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 6, 2025

Legislature · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

legislature

Mar 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ concurs with Senate amendment

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ to House with amendments

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor