SB 152 clarifies how public school districts and higher education institutions handle student data by requiring clear explanations about what data is collected, how it will be used, and the right for families to opt out of data sharing. The bill specifically addresses transparency around data practices under existing law (Section 53E-9-402(1)), mandating that schools disclose collection methods, usage purposes, and opt-out options to parents or guardians. It directly affects school districts, colleges, and families by standardizing data privacy communication. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve transparency, not on new funding or program creation. (3 sentences)
HB 148 creates a School Meals Debt Relief Fund, allowing Utah taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the fund when filing their state income tax returns. Local school districts must report their outstanding student meal debt to the State Board of Education, which then distributes funds based on each district's proportion of total statewide school meal debt. School districts must use these funds solely to pay off unpaid student meal balances, and any unused funds must be returned within 60 days for redistribution to other qualifying districts. The program begins for tax years starting January 1, 2026, with the State Board of Education managing data collection and fund distribution.
HB 163 amends Utah's Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program to expand scholarship eligibility. It specifically allows currently licensed teachers pursuing special education endorsements to receive program scholarships, which previously covered only paraprofessionals and students in training. The bill updates the program's eligibility rules to include these teachers while maintaining existing requirements for school districts, such as requiring candidates to be state residents and employed by the same district. The program uses existing funds to support scholarships covering tuition, fees, and certification costs, with no new money appropriated.
SB 164 transfers oversight of public school construction projects from Utah's State Board of Education to the Division of Facilities Construction and Management. It requires school districts to obtain division approval before construction begins, including adherence to cost matrices, safety standards (like fire safety and accessibility), and mandatory inspections. The bill establishes new requirements for online documentation tracking, cost reporting, and safety consultations with the state security chief, with full compliance needed by January 1, 2027. This directly affects all Utah school districts planning new construction or major renovations.
HB 279 amends Utah's Higher Education Code to include private postsecondary educational institutions under certain sections that previously applied only to public institutions. The bill updates definitions and provisions to ensure private colleges and universities are covered by existing higher education regulations, such as those governing the STEM Action Center Board. Key changes involve modifying code sections (including 9-22-102, 9-22-104, and 53H-11-306) to explicitly reference "private postsecondary educational institutions" in relevant contexts. This technical adjustment ensures private institutions are subject to the same statutory frameworks as public higher education entities, without creating new programs or appropriating funds.
SB 81 requires Utah school districts and charter schools to provide targeted reading interventions when a qualifying dyslexia assessment - administered by a licensed professional within their scope of practice - indicates a student lacks reading competency, shows dyslexia characteristics, or is falling behind in reading skills. The bill defines "qualifying dyslexia assessment" and updates licensing rules for mental health therapists and psychologists to explicitly include dyslexia evaluation and treatment under approved diagnostic standards. Schools must then conduct diagnostic assessments, offer individualized tutoring, monitor progress, and inform parents about support options. This applies to students in grades 1-6, with no new funding required.
HB 299 requires Utah public schools to create specific policies for responding when students are arrested, charged, or convicted of serious offenses or sexual crimes. The bill clarifies that school policies must address crimes occurring both on and off school property, mandates school resource officers to provide safety input before a student's return, and requires alternative school placements if a student shares a school with a victim or someone protected by a restraining order. These policies must comply with state and federal law and apply to all Utah local education agencies (LEAs). The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.
HB 219, the Higher Education Civics Amendments, requires Utah's public and private colleges and universities to incorporate foundational American documents - such as the Constitution, Federalist Papers, and key Supreme Court decisions - into writing courses when appropriate for the course's learning goals, starting in the 2026-27 academic year. The Utah Board of Higher Education must establish a policy directing institutions to use these "seminal documents" in analytical writing assignments to build skills like close reading, historical context analysis, and evidence-based argumentation. Institutions may voluntarily adopt structured requirements (e.g., three analytical writing assignments using these documents), but the bill does not mandate adoption for all schools. Faculty retain full discretion to select specific documents, design assignments, and integrate them without overriding course objectives. The policy aims to strengthen students' ability to analyze primary sources while preserving flexibility in teaching diverse writing genres.
Utah's SB 186 establishes a study group to examine charter school administrative costs and funding models, requiring the State Board of Education to report findings by December 2026. The bill creates "charter school educational service agencies" (ESAs), allowing multiple charter schools to form collaborative entities via memorandums of understanding to share resources and services like grants or risk management coverage. It directly affects Utah charter schools (especially small schools under 2,000 students), the State Board of Education, and the Legislature through mandated study requirements. The bill appropriates $15.995 million for the study and ESA implementation, focusing on how school size impacts operational costs and funding adequacy.
HB 300 extends a 5-year "hold harmless" period for school districts that reduce their tax rates due to changes in property valuation. This protects districts from losing state funding guarantees if they proportionally lower all local tax levies (voted, board, and capital). The bill phases out excess state funding received in 2025 over three years (2026-2028), requiring districts to gradually reduce payments until 2029. It does not appropriate new funds but adjusts how existing state guarantee money is distributed to maintain stability during tax rate changes.
