[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6309327,"mediaKeyId","2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476","parentId",2413298,"title","Committee approves technical fix to equity pupil unit funding formula","audioSeconds",539,"startMs",5470000,"endMs",6009000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476&start=5470&end=6009","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476/thumbnail_5470000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309327/Utah/Committee-approves-technical-fix-to-equity-pupil-unit-funding-formula","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309327-d598dd299df74bfb48a52160af52d827/orig.mp4?Expires=1770444744&Signature=GDHKpih9B-spZ-enCxWlUbsxwnQKaYKBWUQS33n8t8NBl2T9~P0LWDS71GNmFBFrGIQ2xYmD2T-1NDKQ86O00gTvU~yVrrcNK9HzPYHZKpVoKGFtQ3BB4y32RU9HaCRzNSqXy8Gq4fXZ7QB5K5Kuaz8Tf5WiSTKGH~W1FO4AtOevmb7nth1pjXkwgdT3sYXYZYfjpDJ~QpQyV9TtruJYQunjhbxtlRfY7DQ8wBVSzMfSgipSYgGf7kwjGAPm5OSiVOi3lRKVQLT~Af6eZn-fH707K9n42vOZUR6PWTdTnXfHly61w-Sok4hUdDxp8zVpfe3TLS~l8s-ROD5wT2u15w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Education Interim Committee voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 321, a technical bill that adjusts how the state's equity pupil unit matches state funds to local effort.

Senator Fillmore, who presented the bill, said the equity pupil unit provides matching funds for districts with low assessed value per student and that the bill reduces the length of the \"hold harmless\" protection so the calculation better reflects recent local effort on property-tax levies. He said the change is designed to limit situations where districts can change levy structure to qualify for more equalization dollars without increasing the underlying local effort.

Committee members questioned potential effects on districts with large amounts of untaxable federal land or other structural disadvantages; Fillmore said the bill combines two levies for matching purposes and excludes facility bonds from the calculation, which he said should help districts that face practical limits on raising revenue. A motion to send SB 321 to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation passed on a unanimous voice vote.

No members of the public testified during the committee action on this bill.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education Committee - February 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senators approved a bill to tighten rules for the equity pupil unit that aims to redirect matching state funds toward districts making consistent local effort; committee members said the change reduces hold-harmless provisions and prevents gaming of levy rates.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309332,"Committee sends third substitute of mental-health services bill to the floor after stakeholder negotiations",165,6063000,6228000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476&start=6063&end=6228","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476/thumbnail_6063000.jpg","/articles/6309332/Utah/Committee-sends-third-substitute-of-mental-health-services-bill-to-the-floor-after-stakeholder-negotiations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309332-6dbda6339d98bde9293a21b2ea55635e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770444744&Signature=IsNjlPPgM40KA9imDVYrSQ~V0o52IFVD5bJmfTKu3NYcValnUAUNFi3DtfRyaKM3uVRAqSP0WhmtjK6r2St2ImPg~sY1k3RvtvhNiK4nl8c91Gi5TthtrSygI4ubtZHuDFCSp2tHgskOofHHeJiuqG2hS9bI04NivxsrNnt-LVXqg~1lJZumstJ5HGMfifHLXbqG7~Xoi7sU7rwRXT5iSm1LOeLIMfJ2oLPR4qMyovuHlrl3pMraJip7WHcFLulrDesdG3IslACqHPageBQVcr29V1jryyWhHPZawj9OL2-aCLHqzM1xa63tmJY8hRrBZBirPDXHDzKMORFaylK1zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the committee voted to advance the third substitute of HB 281, a measure addressing mental-health services, after sponsors said negotiations with mental-health providers produced a version that several associations moved to neutral.

Representative Gracious (sponsor) told the committee the substitute incorporates negotiated language with the mental-health community; committee staff and sponsors said the substitute reflects compromises developed in meetings with clinicians and provider organizations. A committee member noted that several groups that had opposed earlier drafts, including licensed counseling and psychology associations, had moved to neutral on the current text.

Committee discussion was brief; after sponsors confirmed no new changes since the prior substitute and that substantive stakeholder concerns had been addressed, the committee voted to report the third substitute to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The chair noted the vote as 4–1, with one senator in dissent.","A third substitute of HB 281 — a mental-health services measure — advanced from committee after sponsors and the mental-health community negotiated changes that removed prior opposition and left stakeholders neutral on the latest version.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309336,"Committee approves changes to Utah Fits All scholarship program after intense public testimony",2662,3394000,6056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476&start=3394&end=6056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476/thumbnail_3394000.jpg","/articles/6309336/Utah/Committee-approves-changes-to-Utah-Fits-All-scholarship-program-after-intense-public-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309336-31a076542da370622e75f116085ac064/orig.mp4?Expires=1770444744&Signature=M14nw58Mv4sTReB8kEPwmFdqLWcaRHyyMUwX4qyOOgi3TPHzri2JOAq6n69TFRvL0xIjKJtP-mTZm7GBU4smwX26TqOjDwNeKZr7Ab-POXhjPAzc9O4P70pGAKRIUrU1Q3ZAQ9xhN4xtrG8rMBOrCd4aX9AgHWSfASNzYjANm83Ph-A3CHrsqN8jUA0HV1IdlzVGB0aewi-bEyN27t77qCo1CVi-Rs25i336w8YjKAA2WQ6FuSCzT84ZYRz9LM7MMYG5q-S1Guy8cj425ajBpJKHgqlHPt5e0OT1ATBrm~51019O34LSBqWFrg5D5g7OZIBDkI5VwZeN5n2mNsm5iQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education Interim Committee reported a second substitute of HB 455, which revises the Utah Fits All (UFA) scholarship program, after extensive testimony from parents, providers and advocates both in favor and opposed.

Representative Ashlyn Perucci, sponsor, said the bill is intended to create administrative guardrails after the program's first year of operations. She told the committee the program served about 10,000 students in its first academic year, 95% of them described as low-income under the statute, and had a wait list of about 17,000 students. The substitute sets different scholarship amounts for private-school tuition and home-based learners: private-school awards remain $8,000; the bill sets home-based awards at $4,000 for ages 5–11 and $6,000 for ages 12–18 (sponsor presented these as adjustments to improve sustainability and expand access). The sponsor said the changes are not a new appropriation but a reallocation that will allow more students to participate under existing funding.

The substitute also tightens allowable expenses and explicitly prohibits season tickets, ski passes, recreational equipment and certain furniture; it caps extracurricular spending and allows program managers to block non-educational purchases. The bill moves program contract and financial oversight to the Department of Operations while keeping the state Board of Education involved in provider orientation and fee guidance to districts for hybrid participation. The substitute requires eligibility verification before award and allows prorated awards for mid-year enrollment.

Public testimony was emotional and divided. Many families receiving scholarships — including parents of children with disabilities — described the scholarship as transformative and said a reduction would eliminate needed therapies or curriculum. Other commenters said program oversight failed in year one and that stronger limits were needed to prevent misuse. Several speakers raised privacy and FERPA concerns about portfolio reviews and asked that portfolios remain protected. Provider representatives asked for predictable fee schedules to allow district courses and activities to accept scholarship students.

Committee members adopted an amendment that adjusted age tiers and retained language preserving portfolio privacy, then voted to report the second substitute as amended to the full Senate; the chair announced the committee vote as unanimous.","Lawmakers moved a second substitute of HB 455 that tightens administration, adjusts scholarship amounts and clarifies allowable expenses for the Utah Fits All scholarship; the committee approved the measure after hours of testimony from hundreds of families and providers.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309341,"Committee backs bill to expand high-school civics requirement to one credit",1369,1999000,3368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476&start=1999&end=3368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476/thumbnail_1999000.jpg","/articles/6309341/Utah/Committee-backs-bill-to-expand-high-school-civics-requirement-to-one-credit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309341-370923683bca75749eecdb5de3063728/orig.mp4?Expires=1770444744&Signature=Gm-WwTZmoL0jGYCRhQZ9Qo5hVkeX2F5Ig7hul58FDEeuVbFQXSkHRgBOk~MB9VgeEJCvu~Ognppw8JuZJNnGmVf9zTfqRmtNM4FVe4BGPagEakwmr9IhJBWrlQUnxLmi1CuPZvR~N1f3z-i7lD-rUnQnY9AmSbE5Yc7-jcZOHsVjWqO1ZqoQ-C4De6zuRTfgPrSTpdG5mNa3s3SMLS3YCS~uFxHERlz~LUmyTsAooZXDzWOSxvRzwbHRK3dfNpEzZPjuhOrCGGlFSsRXVU6cJcNzyigqEWQwiD1~eRrfvJ7vw2BXqVZjxjiJDhhNhvyyKUBUpdfQ0d17UFnff-Efiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education Interim Committee voted to send House Bill 381, which would change the current half-credit U.S. government requirement to a full-credit course titled \"American constitutional government and civics,\" to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.

Representative Walt Welton, sponsor of HB 381, told the committee the change is intended to deepen students' knowledge of constitutional government, state and local government and civic engagement. Welton quoted George Washington's remark that \"a primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government\" and said the bill aims to give teachers more time to cover primary documents and local civic structures. He said the proposal keeps the state's existing subject requirements while adding emphasis on primary documents and civic skills.

Senator Baldry expressed support and cited naturalization testing to underscore gaps in civic knowledge; Senator Reebie asked whether the curriculum should include more recent media and contemporary sources. Representative Welton said the bill emphasizes primary documents but that discussion of current events and media literacy could be handled in course materials and by the state school board's standards.

Committee members heard public testimony in favor and opposition. Supporters included parents, teachers and civic-education advocates who said stronger, document-based civics instruction would improve civic knowledge. Kim Ball, a high-school U.S. government teacher who testified, said she supports civics education but worried students would leave for online classes when primary-source lists are emphasized; she provided district online-enrollment numbers to the committee.

After discussion the committee moved HB 381 forward to the full body with a favorable recommendation; committee members discussed possible future statutory language to allow current materials and media literacy to be accommodated in implementation.","A bill to increase the high-school civics requirement from a half-credit to a full-credit called \"American constitutional government and civics\" advanced from committee after sponsor testimony and public comment, with the committee voting to recommend the bill to the full Senate.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6309346,"Committee advances bill to create Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University",1939,37000,1976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476&start=37&end=1976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413298-1a02a72bd4bfe42e9e27c0e932493476/thumbnail_37000.jpg","/articles/6309346/Utah/Committee-advances-bill-to-create-Center-for-Civic-Excellence-at-Utah-State-University","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309346-478289d051938ab32b3dde5518c7e708/orig.mp4?Expires=1770444744&Signature=F4ku6Nef9W-EiKcuxCjTOvdGrEUUPLWY77yK6-Q~nPZWWTPsEEdjDQTvfw2Vx9j4GXoIkS3~YgTTuAkb6ceWP1rWGUUYEY6WnB47WupPTdeWEoBFsO6WnL0bX-oZmJ6mAODjhD8CQ6-Jec35vBhLMhu5b6NdHPK2Qfw7pktyrzMsG9i~w9yDB~HujkdRVKAM1z3tOE6QTwiS1s2lehL5hKLA4rKRcvRatm-5S7TtGGZPZIBCnhnG06-6WxrJ0e~2wWYPbOrzB8cdWv6P8bFcUKWjGVtNOK5xudbPRF9xFcDao~6nkxEGXVqJ6-MM~U~k6ghXJ2cN9lu63P-2qYutFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators on the Education Interim Committee voted to send a bill establishing a Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation after testimony from university leaders and more than a dozen public comments.

The sponsor, Senator John Johnson, opened debate by saying the measure grew from a broader General Education Act he introduced last year and from discussions with university leaders. Harrison Kleiner, vice provost over undergraduate education at Utah State University, told the committee the university reviewed its general education program and concluded the current distribution model \"produces 1,200 courses on a gen ed list\" and does not serve students well. Kleiner said the bill would \"create a new center for civic excellence at Utah State University, which would be the program home for all of general education at USU\" and give it stronger governance and accountability mechanisms, including annual reports to the system commissioner and public posting of syllabi.

The bill would replace the long distribution lists used for general education with a curriculum the sponsors describe as focused on \"great debates, enduring ideas, and seminal texts,\" and would grant the new center authority to set and enforce curricular standards for courses that satisfy general education requirements. Kleiner said the proposal emphasizes viewpoint diversity, critical thinking and \"civic skills like working in teams across differences.\" Senator Reebie questioned why a statute and a fiscal note were necessary if the university already supported reform; Kleiner and Senator Johnson said the bill provides governance authority and fiscal support that the university cannot accomplish alone. Johnson also told the committee that $2 million appears in the governor's budget to support the center.

More than a dozen members of the public spoke; most urged passage. Supporters included Trevor Dykes, a student at Mount Liberty College, and Leah Hansen of Saratoga Springs; several speakers emphasized the value of readings from the Western canon and primary documents. A smaller number of callers raised procedural concerns about legislative involvement in curricular matters and about the bill's prescriptive language for course content.

After discussion the committee voted to send Senate Bill 334 to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The chair announced the final committee tally as 5–1.","A bill to create a Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University, intended to restructure general education around a common curriculum and external accountability measures, advanced from committee after public testimony and a 5–1 vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves technical fix to equity pupil unit funding formula

Committee sends third substitute of mental-health services bill to the floor after stakeholder negotiations

Committee approves changes to Utah Fits All scholarship program after intense public testimony

Committee backs bill to expand high-school civics requirement to one credit

Committee advances bill to create Center for Civic Excellence at Utah State University