2025 Education Bills

February 21st, 2025 /
Spencer Tuinei /
News

Bills and Resolutions for the 2025 General Session

HB0040: School Safety Amendments

Sponsor

Wilcox, R.

Summary

General Description: This bill modifies school safety provisions.

- Highlighted Provisions:
  - modifies communication device requirements for new construction to post-completion determination; ▸amends building standards;
  - revises screening and training requirements for school safety personnel;
  - adjusts school safety personnel provisions;
  - changes safety assessment deadlines and responsibilities;
  - establishes a school safety foundation for certain purposes;
  - creates compliance supports;
  - modifies certain administrative structures within the school safety program;
  - amends the procurement code to allow a school safety foundation to use state cooperative contracts

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

move on & keep working with them

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0042: English Learner Amendments

Sponsor

Education Interim Committee; Rep. Pierucci, Candice B.

Summary

General Description: This bill provides emergency funding to schools experiencing a significant increase in English language learner enrollment.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - defines terms;
  - provides a school district with emergency funding if enrollment of students learning English meets or exceeds a threshold; and
  - requires the state board to oversee an application process and distribute emergency funds. $500,000 from at-risk slush fund

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

Support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0043: Education Program Sunset Amendments

Sponsor

Education Interim Committee Rep. Peterson, Karen M.

Summary

General Description: This bill extends certain sunset dates.

Highlighted Provisions:
- extends sunset dates related to public education programs; and
- makes technical changes.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position

Stated Provo City School District Position

support

HB0076: Public Education Revisions

Sponsor

Miller, Tracy

Summary

- General Description: This bill amends provisions and programs regarding the operation of the public education system.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - removes duplicative language regarding a college and career readiness plan;
  - amends the Teacher Salary Supplement Program and the upcoming replacement Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program to allow a local education agency (LEA) that experiences a carry forward or leftover balance to increase the amount the LEA provides to teachers under certain circumstances;
  - adds the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind as an LEA that may participate in the Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program;
  - increases the portion of appropriated funding the State Board of Education (state board) is statutorily authorized to expend for administrative costs for early literacy software, including the cost of an independent software evaluator;
  - amends provisions regarding kindergarten to:
    - allow a child to enroll in kindergarten if the child moves to Utah after having enrolled in kindergarten in another state with different age requirements for enrollment; and
    - repeal a requirement for the state board to create a process for an LEA to follow when an enrolled student in kindergarten is not toilet-trained; amends provisions regarding early learning plans to:
      - reduce requirements for the plans that LEAs submit to the state board; and
      - repeal a requirement for the state board to use a digital platform to communicate with LEAs regarding early learning;
    - amends provisions related to school fees to ensure that a school is not prohibited from charging a fee for a fine arts course; and
    - makes technical and conforming changes.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025 for most; July 1, 2025 for TSSP section

JLC Position

No position yet; keep working on school fee section

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0077: Flag Display Amendments

Sponsor

Lee, Trevor

Summary

General Description: This bill allows a local education agency to display certain flags in a public school or charter school facility or grounds under certain circumstances and provides a remedy for a violation.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - allows a local education agency to display in a public school or charter school facility or grounds the following flags:
    - the official United States flag;
      - an official Utah state flag;
      - a POW/MIA flag;
    - a flag that cannot be disturbed or altered;
    - a flag that represents an Indian tribe;
    - a flag that represents a city, county, municipality, or political subdivision of the state;
    - a current and official flag of a country or subdivision of that country;
    - a flag that represents a Utah college or university;
    - an official public school flag; or
    - a flag that represents a branch, unit, or division of the United States military;
  - allows a public school or charter school to temporarily display a flag in a classroom that is a part of approved course curriculum; and
  - allows an organization authorized to use a public school or charter school facility to temporarily display the organization’s flag while the organization is using the public school or charter school facility. Effective Date May 7, 2025 JLC Position oppose Provo City School District Position oppose HB0100: Food Security Amendments Sponsor Clancy, Tyler Summary General Description: This bill establishes a program to provide free breakfast and lunch to eligible students and requires participation in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program. Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the Department of Work Force Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program;
  - provides all eligible students with free breakfast and lunch;
  - requires the State Board of Education to reimburse each LEA for the cost of providing each meal;
  - prohibits LEAs from publicly identifying or stigmatizing students who cannot afford meals; and
  - requires communications regarding a student’s meal debt to be directed only to the student’s parent or guardian.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0102: Class Size Reduction Modifications

Sponsor

Education Interim Committee Rep. Moss, Carol S.

Summary

General Description: This bill makes changes to the allocation of an existing appropriation for class size reduction.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - ensures that funds are directed to local education agencies (LEAs) with the highest need;
  - requires an LEA that receives funding to provide a report;
  - adjusts which grades the funds may be used for; and
  - permits an adjustment for inflation.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

Did not vote on this one, but opposed similar SB0032

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0104: Firearm Safety in Schools Amendments

Sponsor

Shipp, Rex

Summary

General Description: Addresses firearm safety instruction in public schools.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the state board to establish standards for firearm safety instruction in public schools; and
  - requires an LEA to provide firearm safety instruction to students.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

unsure at this time

HB0106: Income Tax Revisions

Sponsor

Christofferson, Kay

Summary

General Description: This bill amends income tax provisions.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - amends the corporate franchise and income tax rates; and
  - amends the individual income tax rate.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025; retrospective for Jan 1, 2025 taxable year

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

no position

HB0110: Minimum Basic Tax Rate Reduction

Sponsor

Auxier, Tiara (she’s on PubEd appropriations & House Ed cmte)

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions related to the minimum basic tax rate that funds public education.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - reduces the revenue target for revenue that the minimum basic tax rate generates;
  - repeals the weighed pupil unit value rate; and
  - makes technical and conforming changes.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

opposed – no TSSA money inflationary factor

HB0121: Health Education Amendments

Sponsor

Moss, Carol

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions related to health education.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the State Board of Education to establish curriculum requirements that include instruction in:
    - sexual assault resource strategies;
    - sexual violence behavior prevention; and
    - the legal implications of electronically distributing sexually explicit images;
  - amends provisions related to when a student receives health education instruction;
  - requires a local education agency (LEA) to:
    - review data, including data on sexual assault, for each county in which the LEA is located;
    - use the reviewed data to inform the LEA’s policies on health education; and
    - as appropriate, incorporate the data into health education.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0124: Education Industry Employee Privacy

Sponsor

Lee, Trevor

Summary

General Description: This bill provides for the personal privacy of local education agency employees.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - enacts restrictions on a local education agency (LEA) selling or transferring certain contact information without consent;
  - prohibits requiring use of certain technologies on personal devices;
  - requires an LEA to provide accommodations for mandatory technology use under certain circumstances;
  - allows an employee to file written complaints with the State Board of Education about violations;
  - permits the State Board of Education to investigate complaints; and
  - allows for consequences for violations.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

Oppose

Provo City School District Position

We have questions; is this necessary?

HB0128: Dangerous Weapon at a School Amendment

Sponsor

Gwynn, Matthew

Summary

General Description: This bill addresses the crime of possession of a dangerous weapon on or about school premises.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - clarifies that the crime of possession of a dangerous weapon on or about school premises applies to both minors and adults

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0144: School District Contracting Amendments

Sponsor

Defay, Ariel

Summary

General Description: Enacts provisions related to federal settlement agreements with LEAs.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - prohibits an LEA from contracting with the United States Department of Justice unless the State Board of Education reviews the settlement agreements;
  - requires the State Board of Education to review each proposed agreement between the United States Department of Justice and an LEA or its governing board; and
  - allows the State Board of Education to make recommendations regarding the agreement.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0156: Education Board Amendments

Sponsor

Thurston, Norm

Summary

General Description: This bill modifies provisions relating to state school board powers.

Highlighted Provisions: This bill
- modifies provisions relating to state school board powers; and
- makes technical changes.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0157: Energy Education Amendments

Sponsor

Jack, Colin

Summary

Requires the Office of Energy Development to:
- develop and maintain energy education programs and curricula for grades K-12;
- develop and provide professional development training for educators;
- develop energy related workforce development programs; and
- establish the Energy Education and Workforce Development Task Force;
outlines the responsibilities and duties of the task force; and
requires the office to report annually to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0161: School Bus Route Amendments

Sponsor

Matthews, Ashlee

Summary

General Description: This bill amends student eligibility for state-supported transportation.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - amends student eligibility for state-supported transportation; and
  - makes technical changes.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0168: Artificial Intelligence in Education

Sponsor

Defay, Ariel

Summary

General Description: This bill establishes a task force to guide the implementation and use of artificial intelligence in Utah’s education system.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - creates the Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force (task force);
  - establishes the task force membership;
  - establishes task force duties focused on artificial intelligence in education;
  - requires quarterly meetings and annual reporting;
  - mandates coordination with the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy; and
  - includes a sunset clause.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

didn’t support or oppose

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0169: State Board of Education Amendments

Sponsor

Welton, Doug

Summary

General Description: This bill establishes an ethics framework and complaint process for members of the State Board of Education.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the State Board of Education (board) to establish code of conduct and ethical rules for members;
  - outlines a process for filing and investigating ethics complaints against board members;
  - creates an independent review commission to investigate complaints and recommend actions; &
  - authorizes the board to discipline members for violations, including removal for serious offenses.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0181: School Week Schedule Amendments

Sponsor

Watkins, Christine

Summary

Amends the process for a local education agency or individual public school to obtain a waiver from the State Board of Education to implement a four-day school week.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

no position

HB0184: School Land Trust Amendments

Sponsor

Miller, Tracy

Summary

General Description: This bill streamlines the School LAND Trust Program by shifting responsibilities and improving transparency.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - clarifies action plans and the implementation of action plans;
  - adds a requirement to train on the Open and Public Meetings Act;
  - expands the list of entities to receive training on the School LAND Trust Program;
  - refines the process for reviewing school compliance with the program;
  - adds new responsibilities for the state superintendent

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

support

HB0189: Public Education Course Grade Requirements

Sponsor

Defay, Ariel

Summary

General Description: Prohibits an LEA from requiring student attendance at an off-campus event.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - prohibits an LEA from requiring a student to attend an off-campus event as a condition for grades or academic credit;
  - prohibits adverse effects on a student’s grades or academic standing due to non-attendance at an off-campus event; and
  - requires an LEA to provide optional transportation, a fee waiver, and alternative options for students to meet academic requirements.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

oppose — local issue

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0191: High School Credit Amendments

Sponsor

Teuscher, J.

Summary

- General Description: This bill addresses the use of an instructional packet to receive credit in public high schools.
  - Highlighted Provisions:
    - prohibits a Local Education Agency from awarding a high school student credit for a course completed through the packet method unless the packet has been approved by the state board; and
    - requires the state board to review and approve packets.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose – local issue

Provo City School District Position

Don’t have an issue with it

HB0192: Public Education Scholarship Program Use Amendments

Sponsor

Dailey-Provost, J.

Summary

This bill prohibits certain expenses from being scholarship expenses. “Scholarship expense” does not include: costs related to participation in sports, recreational activities, or athletic programs, including: team fees, uniforms, equipment, or supplies and ski passes, lift tickets, or access to recreational facilities; and any other expense for activities or programs that are already available to the scholarship student through an LEA or other public program regardless of the student’s status as a scholarship student.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0204: Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program Amendments

Sponsor

Peterson, Karen

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions regarding the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - provides that a student teacher is eligible for the program regardless of the institution at which the student teacher is enrolled;
  - limits the availability of program funds if the student teacher receives funding from another state program;
  - provides for one-time funding from a certain account in certain circumstances;
  - requires the State Board of Education to annually report the anticipated cost of certain one-time appropriations to the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

support

HB0206: Chronic Absenteeism Pilot Program

Sponsor

Hayes, Sahara

Summary

General Description: This bill creates the Attendance Advantage – my529 Initiative Pilot Program.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the State Board of Education (state board) to make rules establishing the Attendance Advantage – my529 Initiative Pilot Program (program);
  - requires coordination between the state board and the Utah Educational Savings Plan;
  - establishes requirements for program design and implementation;
  - requires participating local education agencies to follow state board attendance data standards;
  - requires analysis of program effectiveness; and
  - makes program records containing individual student data protected.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

Good in principle, have questions about implementation

HB0209: Homeschool Amendments

Sponsor

Peck, Nicholeen

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions related to home school affidavits.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - removes requirements for a local education agency to run background checks on a parent filing an affidavit;
  - amends the current affidavit filing requirements

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0225: School Zone Speeding Amendments

Sponsor

Moss, Carol

Summary

General Description: This bill addresses penalties for speeding in a school zone.
- Highlighted Provisions: This bill modifies the speed limit at which a first time offender must observe a crossing guard.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0228: Public Education Immunization Amendments

Sponsor

Lisonbee, Karianne

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions regarding a student’s immunization record.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - removes provisions about the expiration of a vaccination exemption form;
  - requires a school to provide a student’s immunization record to a new school when the school transmits a transferring student’s school record

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

no motion

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0233: School Curriculum Amendments

Sponsor

Peck, Nicholeen

Summary

General Description: This bill restricts certain entities from involvement in health education in public schools.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - prohibits a local education agency from allowing entities that perform elective abortions to provide health-related instruction or materials in public schools.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

We already do this; local control

HB0237: Rollback Tax Amendments

Sponsor

Snider, Casey

Summary

General Description: This bill modifies provisions related to property taxes and fees imposed when land is no longer used for agricultural purposes.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - authorizes the county to use 100% of the rollback tax or fee-in-lieu revenue collected within the county when land is no longer used for agricultural purposes for open land and agricultural use;
  - directs the unused rollback tax or fee-in-lieu revenue from the county where the land is located to the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund after five years;
  - updates the sources of revenue to the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund to include the rollback tax and fee-in-lieu revenue

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

oppose

HB0246: Statewide Online Education Program Amendments

Sponsor

Elison, Joseph

Summary

General Description: This bill makes changes to enhance quality, accountability, and transparency in the Statewide Online Education Program.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - authorizes the state board to conduct sample audits of online courses;
  - expands performance reporting requirements for an authorized online course provider;
  - requires the state board to establish a report card for an authorized online course provider;
  - facilitates regular communication between an authorized online course provider and a primary LEA of enrollment;
  - implements a model syllabus template for online courses;
  - requires the state board to create a centralized registration system for parents and students; &
  - requires more frequent progress reporting and student support from an authorized online course provider.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0247: School Swimming and Lifeguarding Programs

Sponsor

Ballard, Melissa

Summary

General Description: This bill enacts provisions in public education related to water safety.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the inclusion of water safety instruction in the public education core curriculum standards for physical education;
  - allows the exemption of a student from required water safety instruction under certain circumstances;
  - allows a local education agency (LEA) to:
    - provide swim instruction, lifeguard certification training, and swim instructor certification training as courses under certain conditions;
    - construe the completion of certain courses toward physical education credit requirements or other requirements; and
    - enter into an agreement with certain providers to offer certain programs; and
  - grants rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0250: Public Employee Gender-specific Language Requirements

Sponsor

Peck, Nicholeen

Summary

General Description: This bill prohibits certain employment action against a public employee.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - prohibits the State Board of Education, a local education agency, or a public employer from taking disciplinary action against an employee for using gender-specific language in certain circumstances;
  - requires a public employer that has a rule or policy requiring an employee to use gender-specific language to accommodate another individual to exempt the employee from disciplinary action in certain circumstances

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

move on

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0260: First Credential Program

Sponsor

Peterson, Val

Summary

General Description: This bill replaces the PRIME program to create the First Credential program.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires designated pathway development positions to perform certain duties;
  - repeals the PRIME program;
  - establishes a first credential program;
  - requires development of a master plan for scaling credentialing programs;
    - establishes a master credential list of approved industry-recognized credentials;
    - ensures credits are transferable to higher education institutions and technical colleges;
    - provides a scholarship for students who complete the first credential program;
    - requires annual review and updates based on labor market needs;
    - provides a grant for implementation and incentives for outcomes;
    - mandates partnerships between schools, employers, and apprenticeship programs;
      - promotes stackable credentials that lead to career advancement

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0267: Public Sector Labor Union Amendments

Sponsor

Teuscher, Jordan

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions governing public employer, public safety, and public fire labor organizations.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires a labor union to provide annual accounting to the labor union members and to the Labor Commission;
  - prohibits a public employer from recognizing a labor organization as a bargaining agent for public employees;
  - prohibits a public employer from entering into collective bargaining contracts;
  - prohibits using public money or public property to assist, promote, or deter union organizing or administration;
    - excludes new employees for a labor organization from participating in Utah Retirement Systems;
  - authorizes the state risk manager to acquire and administer professional liability insurance for disputes between a K-12 personnel and a public employer

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

oppose

HB0268: Nonresident Online School Amendments

Sponsor

Miller, Tracy

Summary

General Description: This bill modifies resident district payments to a nonresident district under certain circumstances.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0269: Privacy Protections in Sex-designated Areas

Sponsor

Gricius, Stephanie

Summary

General Description: This bill modifies provisions regarding sex-designated privacy spaces in education and government facilities.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the Utah Board of Higher Education to provide guidance regarding student housing that degree-granting institutions own or control;
  - provides a definitional change for nonprofit exceptions to and broadens the scope of a nonprofit educational institution exception to the Utah Fair Housing Act;
  - narrows an exception for sex-designated privacy spaces to apply only to a determination of the School Activity Eligibility Commission and a student’s participation in a certain gender-designated interscholastic activity;
  - removes an ambiguous medical treatment documentation provision from certain lists of evidence supporting an individual’s access to certain sex-designated privacy spaces;
  - amends provisions regarding government entity facility compliance to specify which government entity bears certain duties;
  - requires degree-granting institutions to comply with sex designations in assigning students to dwelling units within the institution’s sex-designated student housing

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0280: School District Administrator Authority

Sponsor

Pierucci, Candice

Summary

General Description: This bill amends the definition of an employee.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - amends the definition of an employee; and
  - makes technical changes.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

we like the idea but understand concerns with how it is written

HB0281: Health Curriculum and Procedures Amendments

Sponsor

Gricius, Stephanie

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions regarding health instruction and physical and mental health procedures in the public education system.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

no motion– will work with sponsor

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0303: Public School Directory Sharing Amendments

Sponsor

Acton, Cheryl

Summary

General Description: This bill amends the communication requirements of a local education agency.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires a local education agency to share directory information with another local education agency upon request.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

oppose

HB0325: Parent Access to Learning Materials Pilot Program

Sponsor

Miller, Tracy

Summary

General Description: This bill creates the Parent Access to Learning Materials Pilot Program.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - creates a three-year pilot program for parent access to learning materials;
  - directs the state board to select local education agencies (LEAs) to participate;
  - requires participating LEAs to implement teacher incentives;
  - starts with elementary schools in 2025-26 school year;
  - allows expansion to secondary schools in 2026-27 school year; and
  - requires program reports.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

hold — don’t need this but don’t want to oppose when it likely won’t go anywhere

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB333: Medications in Schools Sponsor Koford, Jill

Summary

General Description: This bill expands the definition of a medical device used to administer epinephrine.
- Highlighted Provisions: amends “epinephrine auto-injector” to “epinephrine rescue medication”

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB344: School Fees Amendments Sponsor Strong, Mark

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions related to school fees.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires a local education agency (LEA) to:
    - ensure that a student has at least one option at the student’s school to complete all required courses and credits without paying a fee or a waiver; and
    - clearly disclose any fee related to a course or activity in the description of the course or activity in the LEA’s registration materials;
  - prohibits an LEA from:
    - charging a student a fee for certain non-fee courses; or
    - charging or increasing a fee to a student to supplement or supplant a fee the LEA is prohibited from charging;
  - allows an LEA to charge a student a fee for certain expenses, under certain circumstances, including for:
    - expenses beyond the common delivery of instruction;
    - extracurricular activities;
    - a discretionary project; and
    - other additional expenses;
  - repeals duplicative language regarding fees for textbooks

Effective Date

July 1, 2025 for most of it; July 1, 2026 for the fee-free path option

JLC Position

Waiting to take a position until we work through a few concerns with sponsor

Provo City School District Position

support

HB0359: Juvenile Justice Amendments

Sponsor

Peck, Nicholeen

Summary

Amends the notification requirements for an offense committed by a student on school grounds;
recodifies and amends requirements related to the notification of an offense committed by a student on school grounds, including statutory provisions addressing investigations, searches, and immunity;
provides that a juvenile probation officer may not offer a minor a nonjudicial adjustment if the minor is 12 years old or older and is referred for a misdemeanor drug offense;
clarifies that a juvenile probation officer may not offer a minor a nonjudicial adjustment if the minor is 12 years old or older and is referred for unlawful adolescent sexual activity;
provides that a court may not grant a petition for expungement of a juvenile record if the petitioner has been adjudicated or convicted of certain drug offenses within two years before the petition for expungement is filed;
repeals statutes regarding notification and reporting of prohibited acts by students

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0371: Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program

Sponsor

Hall, Katy

Summary

General Description: This bill creates the Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - creates a three-year pilot program to promote healthy lifestyle choices in schools;
  - requires the State Board of Education to administer the program; and
  - creates a reporting requirement.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0381: Civics Education Amendments

Sponsor

Welton, Doug

Summary

General Description: This bill amends certain graduation requirements.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - adds a social studies graduation requirement;
  - requires certain social studies related instruction;
  - removes a testing requirement;
  - provides for alternatives to portions of certain graduation requirements

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose because of roles

Provo City School District Position

oppose

HB0395: LEA Reporting Requirements

Sponsor

Welton, Doug

Summary

General Description: This bill requires the State Board of Education (state board) to study and make recommendations regarding local education agency (LEA) reporting of costs associated with implementing new legislation.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the state board to study methods for LEAs to report on the costs of implementing new legislation;
  - outlines the required elements of the report;
  - requires the state board consult with LEAs;
  - requires the state board to report findings and recommendations to the Education Interim Committee;
  - requires legislative committees to review & consider the recommendations

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0396: Small School District Scale of Operations Formula

Sponsor

Peterson, Karen

Summary

General Description: This bill amends the formula for necessarily existent small schools funding.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0397: School Fee Waiver Amendments

Sponsor

Welton, Doug

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions related to school fee waivers.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires a local education agency to waive the fee for one school trip per academic year for each student;
  - limits the number of fee waivers a student may receive;
  - requires local education agencies to establish a cap on fee waivers; and
  - allows a student to request a fee waiver for a second trip.

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

support

HB0399: School Attendance Amendments

Sponsor

Stoddard, Andrew

Summary

General Description: This bill amends and enacts statutes regarding juveniles who are habitual truants.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the State Board of Education (state board) to establish a testing-out assessment option for core courses;
  - requires a local education agency to implement the testing-out assessments created by the state board;
  - allows a school administrator, a school administrator’s designee, or a school resource officer to refer a child that is habitually truant to the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services for prevention and early intervention youth services;
  - allows a school administrator, a local education agency, or the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, to bring a petition alleging habitual truancy against a child and the child’s parent or guardian;
  - modifies the jurisdiction of the juvenile court in regard to habitual truancy;
  - addresses venue for a petition alleging habitual truancy;
  - creates a new chapter, Title 80, Chapter 5a, Children in Need of Services;
  - moves statutes related to runaways and homeless youth to the new chapter;
  - allows a school administrator, local education agency, or the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, to bring a petition alleging that a child is a habitual truant;
  - allows a court to make orders regarding a child that is a habitual truant

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

support

HB0402: Foods Available at School Amendments

Sponsor

Chevrier, Kristen

Summary

General Description: This bill enacts provisions to prohibit certain food additives from being served in a public school.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - enacts provisions to prohibit certain food additives from being served in a public school; and
  - provides an exception.

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0408: School Board Referendum Amendments

Sponsor

Shipp, Rex

Summary

General Description: This bill amends provisions related to local referendums.
- - Highlighted Provisions:
    - subject to certain exceptions, establishes a process for voters who are residents of a school district to hold a local referendum on any legislative action taken by the local school board, including the local school board’s decision to increase a tax or impose a new tax

Effective Date

- May 7, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0428: Property Tax Changes

Sponsor

Koford, Jill

Summary

Requires the minimum basic tax rate imposed by school districts to be certified by consensus between the State Tax Commission, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, and the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst;
allows for the use of money in the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account to fund certain shortfalls in the basic school program

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0432: Tobacco & Electronic Cigarette Modifications

Sponsor

MacPherson, Matt

Summary

Repeals the ban on flavored electronic cigarette products;
- repeals the nicotine content limit for electronic cigarette products;
- amends provisions related to electronic cigarette product enforcement;
- repeals the requirement that electronic cigarette products obtain premarket authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration; ▸requires tracking of electronic cigarette products;
- creates penalties for general retail tobacco businesses that sell flavored electronic cigarette products;
for retail tobacco specialty businesses:
- raises licensing fees;
- creates identification scanning requirements; and
- creates surveillance footage requirements;
- creates a tobacco handling permit for retail tobacco specialty business employees and operators;
- creates a tax on flavored electronic cigarette products; and
- amends criminal penalties regarding the illegal sale of tobacco and electronic cigarette products.

Effective Date

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB447: Statewide Catalyst Campus Model

Sponsor

Shultz, Mike

Summary

This bill establishes a grant program to help local education agencies create or expand catalyst centers.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - creates the Catalyst Center Grant Program (program) to support local education agencies (LEA) in creating or expanding catalyst centers;
  - allows for multi-year grants and capital expenditures;
  - requires alignment with labor market needs, LEA strategic plans, and state career and technical education goals; ▸establishes accountability measures, including limits on carryforward funds and annual reporting;
  - requires Talent Ready Utah and the Utah Leading through Effective, Actionable, and Dynamic Education to create a marketing campaign for the program;
  - exempts certain individuals from educator licensing requirements;
  - amends the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account to fund the program

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

support

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0455: Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments

Sponsor

Pierucci, Candice

Summary

Highlighted Provisions:
- strengthens residency requirements and income verification process;
- amends the definition of the program manager;
- creates a financial administrator to process payments and fund expenditures from a scholarship account;
- prohibits the program manager from charging processing fees to families;
- establishes deadlines for scholarship acceptance or denial;
- limits extracurricular and physical education expenses each to 20% of the scholarship amount;
- creates procedures for students with special needs;
- enhances program manager accountability through audits and transparency;
- adds requirements for a local education agency acting as qualified providers;
- allows for scholarship amount rollovers;
- creates a Utah Fits All Scholarship Restricted Account (the account);
- allows funds within the account to accrue interest and be invested;
- allows for rollover amounts of unused scholarship awards;
- clarifies the State Tax Commission’s role in income verification

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No motion passed — like that it’s moving in right direction but have concerns

Provo City School District Position

support oversight changes — would like to see a few more things added

HB0462: Rural School Funding Amendments

Sponsor

Auxier, Tiara

Summary

General Description: This bill creates the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - creates the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program to fund the construction or refurbishment of sports facilities in rural public schools;
  - requires the Utah State Board of Education to administer the program;
  - allows a local education agency to apply for funds from the program;
  - requires the state board to report on the program upon request

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

no motion

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0473: School Digital Materials Amendments

Sponsor

Peck, Nicholeen

Summary

General Description: This bill amends and enacts provisions regarding the accessibility of sensitive material through digital instructional material in a school setting.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the state auditor to establish and oversee a digital materials regulator (regulator), including reporting on the actions of the regulator to the Education Interim Committee;
  - requires the regulator to:
    - investigate allegations regarding sensitive material in digital instructional materials;
    - impose a fine on a vendor that provides digital access to sensitive material in a school setting; &
    - make recommendations regarding the termination of contracts with fined vendors;
  - includes information regarding sensitive material in the information the state board provides through a certain parent portal;
  - allows the regulator to initiate a sensitive material review in any local education agency (LEA);
  - requires the state board to report alleged sensitive material violations involving digital instructional material that a vendor provides to the regulator;
  - requires each LEA to:
    - provide certain information to parents at the time of student registration each year; and
    - maintain a section on the homepage of the LEA’s website regarding sensitive material reporting;
  - allows the state board, an LEA, or the Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN) to rescind certain contracts if a vendor does not remove access to digital sensitive material;
    - requires the state board, an LEA, or UETN to:
      - provide certain notice to each vendor with which the entity contracts to provide digital instructional material in a school setting; and
      - ensure that any database or device which a student may access uses a filter or other software to prohibit access to sensitive material

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

No Position

Stated HB0477: School Trespass Amendments

Sponsor

McPherson, Matt

Summary

This bill amends provisions regarding criminal trespass upon school property.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - states that public comment in a local school board meeting that complies with certain restrictions may not be the basis for criminal trespass;
  - defines and amends terms regarding criminal trespass upon school property, narrowing the scope of the property in question

Effective Date

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0483: School & Institutional Trust Lands Administration Amendments

Sponsor

Walter, Neil

Summary

This bill addresses provisions related to school and institutional trust lands.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - clarifies a primary beneficiary representative for a trust established in the Utah Enabling Act;
  - requires the director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (administration) to complete a valuation of the administration’s land portfolio every five years;
  - requires the director to report annually to the Legislature:
    - the activities of the administration; •an approximate valuation of the administration’s land portfolio;
    - an audited financial statement of the administration; and
    - an account of the total amount of funds distributed by the administration;
  - provides the circumstances under which the state shall offer for sale trust lands subject to a lease;
  - repeals the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

oppose

Provo City School District

Position No Position Stated

HB0486: Number of School Day Amendments

Sponsor

Teuscher, Jordan

Summary

General Description: This bill allows a local education agency governing board to determine a school term.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - Removes the requirement to set a school term from the State Board of Education;
  - requires a local education agency governing board to set a school term

Effective Date

July 1, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0497: Public Education Compliance

Sponsor

Hall, Katy

Summary

This bill amends and enacts provisions expanding the authority of the State Board of Education (state board) to address local education agency compliance.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - requires the state board to use an existing compliance framework to address reports or allegations of noncompliance;
  - requires the state board to develop a system to prioritize certain complaints to the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission;
  - requires a school district or charter school to provide information to the state board that is necessary for the state board to fulfill a statutory data gathering, compliance, or reporting requirement

Effective Date

May 7, 2025

JLC Position

No Position Stated

Provo City School District Position

No Position Stated

HB0508: School Data Amendments

Sponsor

MacPherson, Matt

Summary

This bill requires the State Board of Education (state board) to study and make recommendations regarding local education agency (LEA) data collection, retention, student information systems, and reporting requirements.
- Highlighted Provisions:
  - creates a Data Systems and Reporting Advisory Committee;
  - requires the state board to study LEA practices for collection and retention of student personally identifiable information;
  - requires analysis of LEA student information system costs and capabilities;
  - requires examination of LEA reporting requirements and potential sunset provisions;
  - establishes requirements for stakeholder input and coordination;
  - requires the state board to report findings and recommendations to the Education Interim Committee; and
  - requires legislative review of recommendations.