Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 373: Higher Education Innovation

HB 373 creates a pilot grant program to fund higher education research at Utah public universities, administered by the Utah Board of Higher Education through the Nucleus Institute or other designated bodies. The bill allows the commissioner of higher education to take over certain duties previously handled by the board and requires annual reporting on the program's implementation. It does not appropriate new state funds, and the program would operate under existing funding mechanisms. The bill directly affects Utah public universities, research institutions, and faculty seeking competitive funding for innovative academic projects.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program for higher education research using existing funds, advancing innovation at public universities per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 218: Digital Skills Amendments

HB 218 amends Utah’s requirements for digital literacy education in grades 7 and 8, directly affecting public school students in those grades starting the 2027-2028 school year. The bill defines specific digital skills concepts (such as online ethics, AI literacy, cybersecurity, social media impact, and misinformation evaluation) that must be covered in the course. It also establishes an advisory tech council to guide curriculum development, recommend resources, and advise on emerging technologies. The changes update existing education codes without new funding, focusing on standardizing digital literacy instruction across Utah schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific digital literacy curriculum standards for grades 7-8, establishing advisory council to develop resources, enhancing K-12 educational standards.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates cybersecurity and AI literacy in K-12 curriculum, directly enhancing digital skills education per bill's defined requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 165: Economic Mobility Initiative

SB 165 establishes Utah's "Raising Expectations through Accountability, Community, and Hope" initiative to support community coalitions working on education and economic outcomes. It creates two grant tracks: "partnership development" grants for communities to build plans (requiring criteria like rural location, low school graduation rates, or significant community disparities), and "implementation" grants for executing approved plans. The program requires coalitions - comprising nonprofits, local governments, schools, and community members - to develop detailed "mobility action plans" focused on measurable goals like improving graduation rates, postsecondary completion, or family income levels. Communities must track progress using defined "community indicators" (e.g., kindergarten readiness, high school graduation, housing stability, and self-sufficiency income rates). The bill sets up the program framework but does not appropriate funds for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant programs for K-12 education initiatives targeting low graduation rates and community disparities, directly funding educational support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 126: Micro-Education Entity Facility Amendments

HB 126 amends Utah zoning laws to treat micro-education entities (like home-based microschools) as permitted uses in all municipal zoning districts, removing barriers to their operation. It requires municipalities to process all land use applications for these entities on a first-priority basis and limits parking requirements to match those for other schools or institutional uses. The bill also clarifies that local governments cannot impose additional restrictions on micro-education entities beyond objective land use standards, such as setbacks or safety regulations. This directly affects micro-education providers seeking to operate within residential or mixed-use areas without facing undue zoning hurdles. The changes apply to Utah Code sections 10-20-304 and 17-79-305, with no new funding or fees required.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves zoning barriers for microschools, expanding K-12 educational access by treating them as permitted uses and prioritizing applications.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 85: Excellence in Education and Leadership Supplement Modifications

SB 85 expands Utah's teacher performance award program to include teachers in school districts not participating in the program. It creates a "self-nomination" pathway for eligible teachers in non-participating districts who meet statewide performance thresholds (top 40% in their subject/grade using state data). The bill updates the program rules to allow these teachers to qualify without district nomination, using a state-calculated value-added growth model. The changes apply to all Utah public school teachers and require the state center to identify qualifying teachers and issue invitations. No new funding is appropriated for this eligibility expansion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands teacher performance awards to non-participating districts via self-nomination, supporting educators by increasing access to funding and recognition.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

failed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 119: School and Classroom Amendments

SB 119 requires Utah's State Board of Education to develop free, open educational resources (OER) for public schools in kindergarten through grade 8. These resources must align with Utah core standards, reflect state values, be accessible for students with disabilities, and avoid bias, including digital and print materials. The bill directs the State Board to create a centralized platform for these resources, consult with schools and parents during development, and report on progress to the legislature. It does not mandate school districts to adopt the OER, and the bill affects all Utah public schools serving K-8 students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free, accessible OER aligned with standards and inclusive for disabled students, expanding educational access and quality for K-8.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 334: Educator Organization Amendments

HB 334 creates the Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission to study gaps in educator support systems. The commission will examine issues like communication between schools and policymakers, professional development opportunities, teacher liability insurance models, and recognition programs, with a focus on educators not covered by professional organizations. It will hold its first meeting before October 1, 2026, and submit recommendations to the Education Interim Committee. The bill does not change existing laws or allocate funding, as it establishes a study body to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates commission to study educator support gaps, focusing on professional development and recognition for underrepresented educators, aligning with strengthening educator support systems.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 75: Educator Salary Adjustment Eligibility

SB 75 defines eligibility for annual educator salary adjustments by requiring a license from the Division of Professional Licensing and a position as a social worker or registered nurse in an educational setting. The bill mandates that the Legislature annually appropriate funds for these adjustments, though actual funding remains subject to budget constraints. It directly affects licensed social workers and registered nurses employed in educational roles by establishing their eligibility for potential salary increases. The bill does not guarantee specific raises but creates a framework for future budget allocations to address retention and recruitment. (Note: This bill is procedural in nature, defining eligibility criteria rather than implementing new policy.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual appropriations for educator salary adjustments, directly funding specific education roles within budget constraints.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual appropriations for educator salary adjustments, establishing eligibility for licensed school social workers/nurses, directly supporting educator compensation in K-12 settings.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates annual appropriations for salary adjustments for licensed social workers and RNs in schools, directly advancing wage standards for specific educational workers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 65: Minimum Basic Tax Rate Amendments

SB 65 amends rules for distributing minimum basic tax revenue to school districts. It requires the state treasurer to deposit county tax payments into a special fund and notify the state board within 35 days. The state board must then send school districts either the full deposit amount or their remaining unfunded program costs (whichever is less), but not exceeding the deposit. The bill also clarifies that the state isn't subject to certain notice requirements before implementing these tax rates.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates state board to distribute tax funds to school districts, covering unfunded program costs up to deposit amount, ensuring consistent school funding distribution.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 241: Charter School Amendments

HB 241 updates Utah's charter school laws by replacing the "Charter School Revolving Account" with the "Charter School Revolving Fund," administered by the Utah Charter Finance Authority starting July 1, 2026. It gives charter schools equal access to purchase decommissioned school property (with resale restrictions), clarifies they are public schools, and requires governing board members to take an oath of office. The bill also adjusts loan limits ($1 million for facility expansions, 25% for acquisition/construction) and repayment terms, while making technical changes to related statutes. No new state funds are appropriated for these changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies charter schools as public institutions and expands access to facilities/funding for expansions, supporting K-12 educational infrastructure and access.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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