SB 267 Utah Senate · 2025 General Session

Charter School Authorizer Amendments

SB 267 modifies Utah's charter school authorization rules, directly affecting charter schools, their authorizers (like local school districts or the State Charter School Board), and the State Charter School Board itself. Key changes include creating procedures for charter schools to transfer between authorizers, redirecting administrative fees paid to authorizers to charter schools starting in fiscal year 2027, and adding fee payment compliance as a requirement for schools. The bill also updates asset distribution rules for school closures and lists authorizer fees as grounds for termination. These provisions aim to clarify oversight processes and funding flows within Utah's charter school system.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies Utah's charter school authorization and funding framework by establishing fee structures for authorizers, creating transfer procedures between authorizers, and adjusting how administrative funding is distributed. The changes clarify fee collection timelines, add fee payment compliance as grounds for charter termination, and modify asset distribution priorities during school closures.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of charter school oversight by formalizing transfer procedures between authorizers and adding fee payment compliance as a termination ground, while maintaining the same types of entities eligible to authorize charter schools.

REQUIREMENT

Added fee payment compliance as a ground for charter school termination under Section 53G-5-503

Created new procedures for charter schools to transfer between authorizers under Section 53G-5-206

Modified asset distribution priorities in school closures to return donated assets to donors before other distributions

Added requirements for authorizers to establish minimum standards including consequences for non-compliance

FISCAL

Modified administrative funding distribution to include fees from all charter school authorizers, not just the State Charter School Board

TIMELINE

Changed fee collection deadline from May 1, 2026 to beginning July 1, 2026 for State Charter School Board

ENFORCEMENT

Modified receiver appointment procedures to require Utah Charter School Finance Authority consent for qualifying charter schools with outstanding bonds

MODIFIED

Made technical changes to formatting and section numbering throughout the bill

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies Utah's charter school authorization and funding framework by establishing fee structures for authorizers, creating startup funding for new authorizers, allowing charter schools to transfer between authorizers, and adjusting asset distribution rules during school closures. The changes aim to increase accountability, provide financial support for new authorizers, and improve transparency in charter school operations.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of charter school oversight by adding fee payment compliance as a ground for termination and establishing formal transfer procedures between authorizers, while maintaining the existing framework for charter school authorization by the State Charter School Board, local school boards, and higher education institutions.

FISCAL

New startup funding of $400,000 annually for the first five years for new authorizers (except the State Charter School Board), with reduced amounts in subsequent years.

Beginning in fiscal year 2027, additional funding equal to the State Charter School Board's 2026 administrative funding will be distributed to charter schools through per-pupil allocations.

REQUIREMENT

Charter schools must now pay fees to their authorizers, with specific fee structures established for the State Charter School Board and other authorizers.

Asset distribution priorities during school closures were modified to return remaining assets to the authorizer after paying all liabilities and obligations.

State Charter School Board fee retention is limited to 105% of state administrative funds received in fiscal year 2025, with excess fees deposited into local replacement per-pupil allocation.

TIMELINE

Fee collection begins July 1, 2026, with the State Charter School Board required to establish fee policies before May 1, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Failure to pay required authorizer fees is now listed as a ground for charter agreement termination.

SCOPE

New procedures established allowing charter schools to transfer between approved authorizers without retaliation or operational restrictions.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors