This bill adjusts state funding for Utah's public education system for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, allocating money to school districts, charter schools, and state education agencies while modifying several existing programs. It eliminates two grant programs - the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program and the Personalized, Competency-based Learning Grants Program - while creating new reporting requirements for how the state superintendent transfers funds and how student data is managed for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. The legislation also establishes a new College and Career Counseling program, increases funding for at-risk students, and sets standards for mental health screening fund distribution and educator salary adjustments.
HB 462 creates a $325,000 grant program to provide internet access on school buses for extended trips (over 60 minutes one-way) in rural Utah school districts. It targets districts with schools in specific rural counties or fewer than 3,000 students, requiring at least two buses per district to be equipped with internet systems. Districts must maintain the service for three years, follow the same internet safety rules as school buildings, and can combine grant funds with their own to cover additional buses or service time. The program takes effect July 1, 2026, and is funded through the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
SB 8 provides funding for compensation adjustments for Utah state employees and higher education staff for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It includes a 1% labor market pay increase, funding for health/dental benefit changes, retirement rate adjustments, and a $26-per-pay-period retirement plan match. The bill appropriates $124.5 million for 2027 (with significant portions from General and Income Tax Funds) to cover these specific employee compensation changes. It directly affects all state employees and higher education personnel covered by these funding provisions. The bill focuses on operational budget adjustments rather than new policy mandates.
HB 312 requires Utah public schools to implement "spiral instruction" on foundational U.S. civics documents (including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Federalist Papers) for all K-12 students. Starting in the 2028-2029 school year, schools must teach these documents repeatedly through the grades, with content growing more complex each year to build deeper understanding of their historical context, principles, and relevance to current events. The State Board of Education must develop core standards ensuring this instruction aligns with students' developmental levels and integrates with existing social studies curricula. This policy directly affects all Utah public school districts and their K-12 students, with no new state funding allocated.
HB 329 increases state employee paid leave for childbirth, adoption, and foster care. It extends postpartum recovery leave from 3 to 9 weeks and adds 9 weeks of paid leave for adopting children under six, plus 3 weeks for fostering children under six. School districts (LEAs) can apply for reimbursement through a new program if they implement similar paid leave policies for their employees, with $3 million appropriated for fiscal year 2027. The bill also updates the Breastfeeding Protection Act to include breast pump use and requires the Department of Human Resource Management to establish rules for administering these leave provisions.
SB 195 establishes a Statewide Youth Apprenticeship Governance Council to coordinate youth apprenticeship programs across Utah state agencies and education providers. It authorizes the state to participate in the federal Workforce Pell Grant program and allows the Department of Workforce Services to share wage data with the Utah Board of Higher Education. Key provisions include modifying definitions, enabling interstate agreements for education programs, classifying certain student data as protected, and creating mechanisms for approving industry-recognized credentials. The bill directly affects state agencies, educational institutions, and apprenticeship programs by improving coordination and data sharing for workforce development. No new funding is appropriated.
SB 244 requires all Utah public schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs) by the 2026-2027 school year, directly affecting every school within a local education agency (LEA). The bill mandates that CERPs include evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care protocols, proper placement and maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and training for staff in CPR and AED use. It establishes a $200,000 grant program prioritizing high-needs schools (those with Title I status or over 50% free/reduced lunch students) to cover AED purchases, maintenance, and staff training. The State Board of Education will oversee implementation and set rules for compliance, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.
HB 145 amends Utah's definition of "valid excuse" for school absences to include participation in specific extracurricular clubs. It explicitly adds mountain biking, shooting sports, and Utah State University-administered youth development programs (focused on agriculture, STEM, leadership, etc.) to the list of activities that qualify as a valid excuse. This directly affects public school students in Utah who participate in these clubs, allowing them to miss school for club-related events without being marked truant. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and makes only technical changes to the existing code.
HB 393 creates a two-year pilot program to screen for dyslexia in Utah schools. It requires the University of Utah College of Education and Education Policy Center to develop a dyslexia screening tool and provides resources to school districts and charter schools. The program mandates reporting to the Education Interim Committee and will end on July 1, 2027. The bill amends education code sections but does not appropriate state funds.
SB 181 sets safety standards for school seclusion rooms (locked or isolated areas used for student discipline) and creates a one-time grant program to help schools upgrade existing rooms. It requires minimum physical standards (room size, lighting, ventilation, unbreakable windows), mandates audio/video recording during seclusion with one-year retention, and prohibits dangerous objects. The grant program requires local schools to provide matching funds for compliance but forbids using funds to build new seclusion rooms. The bill directly affects Utah public and private K-12 schools, their staff, and students subjected to seclusion, integrating these standards into existing school policies and reporting requirements.
