Education

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

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 146: Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Program Amendments

HB 146 removes the word "Pilot" from Utah's Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Program, making it a permanent program instead of a temporary initiative. The bill affects school districts and teachers participating in the program, which provides funding to support teacher leadership roles like mentoring peers and developing instructional skills outside standard pay structures. Key changes include updating program descriptions in state law to reflect its permanent status and adjusting related administrative references. No new funding is provided, as the bill only makes technical revisions to the existing program framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill makes teacher mentoring program permanent, ensuring ongoing funding for teacher leadership roles and instructional development, directly strengthening K-12 educator support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 163: Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program Amendments

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access for licensed teachers seeking special education endorsements, increasing funding opportunities for educator development and program inclusivity within K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 353: Higher Education Credit Transfer Amendments

HB 353 requires Utah's Board of Higher Education to improve credit transfer processes for students moving from institutions outside Utah's public higher education system. Specifically, it mandates the Board to create clearer pathways for these students, prevent unnecessary course duplication, and provide them with specific information about how their credits will transfer. The bill directly affects students transferring from out-of-state or non-system colleges to Utah public universities and colleges. These changes aim to make credit transfers smoother and more predictable, without changing tuition or adding new funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents unnecessary course duplication and creates clearer transfer pathways for out-of-state students, enhancing higher education access and efficiency per bill's mandates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 293: Public Education Student Athlete Protections

HB 293 prohibits Utah public schools from joining athletic associations that fail to include specific student athlete protections. The bill requires associations to mandate holiday breaks, summer rest periods, and limit practice time to 15 hours per week. It also sets documentation standards for verifying student eligibility, with accommodations for non-citizen students (using alternative IDs or affidavits) and homeless youth (using school records or affidavits). This directly affects public schools and the athletic associations they partner with, ensuring associations comply with these policies before schools can participate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates student athlete protections including rest periods, practice limits, and eligibility documentation, directly enhancing student health/safety within K-12 athletics per bill's requirements.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly allows non-citizen students alternative IDs/affidavits for eligibility, enabling access to school sports programs.85% confidence

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 317: Social Health in Public Education Curriculum

HB 317 requires Utah public schools to include "social health" instruction in the mandated health curriculum, focusing on relationship-building skills, refusal techniques for unwanted advances, and situational safety awareness. The bill mandates abstinence-focused education while prohibiting instruction on sexual stimulation, contraceptive methods (except basic factual information), or advocacy for premarital sex. Schools must follow state guidelines, notify parents before adopting materials, and provide this instruction at least twice between grades 7-12. It directly affects all Utah public K-12 schools and their health curriculum content.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new social health curriculum content in K-12 health education, expanding required curriculum standards while restricting specific topics within that framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

Track

introduced · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 198: Educator Salary Adjustment

HB 198 repeals a provision tying educator salary adjustments to the funding status of Utah's Fits All Scholarship Program. The bill removes the condition that would have reduced salary adjustments from $10,350 to $5,175 if the scholarship program was not funded, ensuring all eligible educators receive the full $10,350 adjustment for fiscal year 2026 regardless of the scholarship program's status. It affects school districts, charter schools, regional education service agencies, and Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind that employ educators covered under the bill (including teachers, counselors, librarians, and specialists). The change takes effect July 1, 2026, with no new funding added - only a technical adjustment to the existing salary calculation mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ensures full $10,350 educator salary adjustment by removing contingent defunding clause, protecting school budget allocation for personnel costs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures full educator salary adjustment ($10,350) by removing funding-dependent reduction, directly supporting teacher compensation and school finance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

Track

in committee · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 118: Mental Health Services in Higher Education

SB 118 creates a $1.5 million grant for Utah public universities to improve student mental health services. It requires institutions to either establish peer coaching programs - where trained student volunteers provide non-clinical support - or use funds for other mental health services. Peer coaches, defined as student volunteers (not licensed professionals), can offer support like mentoring or resource referrals but cannot diagnose or provide clinical therapy. The grant, funded by reallocating existing income tax revenue, takes effect July 2026 and exempts peer coaches from liability for their non-clinical support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.5M from reallocated state funds to fund university mental health services, directly advancing budget resource allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1.5M grant for mental health services in higher education, directly funding student support programs under Education topic.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSB 118 allocates $1.5M grant to fund mental health services at Utah universities, explicitly strengthening student mental health access through peer programs and service expansion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Revenue Student Health Mental Health

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 351: School Vision Screening Amendments

HB 351 requires Utah public schools to follow up with parents within 30 days if a student fails a vision screening, confirming they received results and offering help finding care. It affects students aged 3-16 in Utah public schools, their parents, and school staff conducting screenings. The bill establishes a two-tier screening system (basic "tier one" and more detailed "tier two"), mandates training for school nurses and volunteers, and creates standardized forms to ensure screenings aren't confused with full eye exams. Schools must also provide resources for follow-up care and prevent volunteers from promoting businesses during screenings. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates vision screening follow-up and care access for students, enhancing student health and educational access in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school follow-up for vision screenings, ensuring students access to care and improving health service access for K-12 students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

signed · Utah · House Feb 1, 2026

HB 1: Public Education Base Budget Amendments

HB 1 amends Utah's public education budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, primarily adjusting funding formulas and allocations. It sets the weighted pupil unit (WPU) value at $4,870 for 2026-2027, revises eligibility for career and technical education funding, and modifies emergency funding for English learners. The bill appropriates over $8.7 billion for school operations and capital budgets in 2027, including $4.8 billion from the Uniform School Fund, and adjusts tax rate calculations to support school funding. These changes directly affect Utah school districts, charter schools, and state education agencies through updated budget allocations and funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $8.7B for public education, adjusts tax rates to fund school budgets, and increases WPU value, directly advancing state education finance.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $8.7B+ for K-12 operations including $4.8B from Uniform School Fund, increases WPU value, and revises funding formulas to support schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding