[{"_1":2,"_108":-5,"_109":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":43,"_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":72},"mediaId",6304347,"mediaKeyId","2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205","parentId",2465386,"title","Panel approves flag-display measure after hours of public testimony; vote 4-1","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1615000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205&start=1615&end=1615","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205/thumbnail_1615000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304347/Utah/Panel-approves-flag-display-measure-after-hours-of-public-testimony-vote-4-1","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304347-30217092e038401ffffd2b0d2139849d/orig.mp4?Expires=1769995258&Signature=XiMxX8t2xRcXstK3oM0P5iOoXElA~6UfbJx5E1Dit6GlLgc9WQJboUBKyknBiHLMhzDvIt~rptbCMtV0X25bVWMJcmFuY3CNOySJ6GMl5WX~JJWWPrraJG4etF3N9c3J4Ac-0eNNo0yFP7jpA4gxsXRI4PSPiCVahC0noYm8HhHn601mVe0zfyVgYIqoQsQmvGGFh9LWacNmfQidTmVL2n6muAAeqWjF3GhI-r-B1knPgcKupaTZVU7ICF1KTtCViN6DcuboVvGXHcOawrRqA6HhvsvRJwIeUai3c7XuftKt6dgXlcVyshdwD0o~wLkrIpRTfrctuJwyIoBCyXTGkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah Legislature","date","2025-02-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Education Committee advanced first-substitute House Bill 77 on a 4–1 vote after several hours of public testimony that split sharply over whether the state should limit flags displayed in classrooms and on government property.

Representative Lee presented the bill, which lists approved flags that may be displayed by schools, cities and counties and prohibits others. Lee said the bill is narrowly focused on “political neutrality” and on flags specifically; it does not regulate pins or stickers and includes an amendment to allow historical American and state flags and Olympic flags. “Some of the flags that are approved seem like the ones that we would all assume so,” Lee told the committee, and he said the bill seeks to avoid state-funded ideological messaging.

The measure drew dozens of public speakers. Supporters described the bill as restoring neutrality and protecting students from political messaging in classrooms. Mary Anne Christensen of Utah Legislative Watch told senators parents are “tired of walking into their child's school and seeing evidence of politics.” Several speakers representing conservative civic groups and some educators urged the committee to pass the bill.

Opponents—many educators, students and civil-rights groups—argued the bill would erase visible signs of support that marginalized students rely on. Educators and students said pride and international flags are tools of inclusion and safety. Teacher Laurie Copaz said she feared the bill “is basically targeting a certain population of students that need to feel welcomed in our schools.” The ACLU of Utah and Equality Utah both opposed the measure in testimony.

Legal counsel and staff addressed constitutional issues raised in public testimony. Michael Curtis of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel reviewed Supreme Court precedent on government speech (including Shurtleff v. City of Boston, Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Pleasant Grove City v. Summum) and observed the government-speech doctrine allows jurisdictions to select messages the government itself projects, but he also noted that Utah municipalities operate under state law and “political subdivisions of the state can only exercise powers and perform functions that are provided by statute.” Several municipal attorneys and the Utah League of Cities and Towns testified that the bill risks infringing local governments’ lawful discretion and may raise constitutional challenges.

Senator Baldry moved to pass out first-substitute HB 77 with a favorable recommendation. The committee recorded the motion as passing 4–1, with Senator Reby (recorded in the transcript as opposing). The transcript records the chair thanking the public for participating.

What passed: the committee sent the first-substitute HB 77 (flag-display amendments) to the Senate floor with a favorable recommendation; the transcript indicates extensive public comment and mixed stakeholder positions. The record shows the bill’s sponsor and some committee members framed the measure as a narrow neutrality rule for flags, while many teachers, students and civil-rights organizations said the change would remove important gestures of welcome and could raise constitutional and local-governance concerns.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education Committee - February 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After extended public testimony both for and against it, the Senate Education Committee voted 4–1 to advance first-substitute House Bill 77, a measure that restricts which flags government entities and K–12 classrooms may display and directs enforcement through the state auditor, sponsors said.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":84,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":85,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72},6304353,"Committee advances bill to prioritize online course funding for isolated rural schools",228,1388000,1616000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205&start=1388&end=1616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205/thumbnail_1388000.jpg","/articles/6304353/Utah/Committee-advances-bill-to-prioritize-online-course-funding-for-isolated-rural-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304353-56e882c33213e7d3442521eca8ee59c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1769995258&Signature=fFJ8toQ0OQM1R-99K2T2poZFfVV-hVlDklklOXodNxd~m2uFZHNm0J1MlUouqP3NGBtS-1ndkl98dj1crqO~GtWktg8k7b38ZcnOW0N9-9wNPyxy3XZsT5k3qDUOLkpTKd4FSYb7KYFQGCBv348yvpOhyCkyXjQ0XqjsWF-30DnwPr52fLT8KDtmqOSbn934~PcgvATlXVidiKpniHE1SlCFz3DYbofiCvsC7niSL965FBlGd~WeWY~lFh13lHKFzaZ9hNSmxoXMvDN37eogZ0ucCMr7D-CfTGnwB4h962MZzmYhn9Uod2g5e~u2CqKhAL9LqI~VlVO3x12kmL21wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 35, a committee bill aimed at prioritizing funding for the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) to expand access to higher-level courses for students in schools that lack staff or geographic access to qualified instructors.

The sponsor said many rural schools lack personnel or resources to offer Advanced Placement or concurrent-enrollment courses. SB 35 would require the State Board of Education to establish priority criteria for distributing SOEP funds, ranking schools by factors including current access to college and career readiness programs, geographic isolation, staff capacity and financial constraints.

Sponsor testimony said the change is intended to direct limited SOEP funding to schools that cannot otherwise provide those classes without jeopardizing local district budgets. The sponsor described the bill as a narrowing and prioritization of existing mechanisms rather than creating a new statewide program.

Senator Reby moved to give SB 35 a favorable recommendation. The committee chair called the voice vote and recorded the motion as unanimous; the bill will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.

","Senate Bill 35, which would direct the State Board to prioritize funding for a statewide online education program to increase access to advanced coursework in geographically isolated and understaffed schools, received a favorable recommendation from the Senate Education Committee.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":96,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":97,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72},6304358,"Committee advances bill to let colleges compensate athletes under NIL framework; sponsors emphasize oversight",944,475000,1419000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205&start=475&end=1419","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205/thumbnail_475000.jpg","/articles/6304358/Utah/Committee-advances-bill-to-let-colleges-compensate-athletes-under-NIL-framework-sponsors-emphasize-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304358-d2fa2b3cb464a519b4ce887fbe8c151f/orig.mp4?Expires=1769995258&Signature=a9OndNYiJHzkDYSGfuuGDaDbFgZhe-JWJKfRrVS3zfL3-IOeJ25STnlUgPMVOmYC2IrYFB2-9awPCFEe527KIQljKxftjFd9QxWN2qh3cuaxuNkepODaf0PvKU0VV1DvqhZlktL~MCaPUm9KJt6DmC9GylDgj64rpdqwO4ubM3vrJ4TzeImHg-aCOV6XqBWxROmIz1WahupqeezzuRioH3fKy1zQFXNyDd~dClPdsUN17OQDnxwv87dC9d9C7XGwnCwQ37Rs1cMAQSenQZtZYA9HWejSSQX5-lP4FfP2Y3ne9jEwC0B1hfWk67m4pvWzUdRRmP4OdoKV2bnYxf-bRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Education Committee voted to advance first-substitute House Bill 449, Student Athlete Amendments, after the sponsor described the measure as a state framework to let Utah colleges participate in NIL compensation while maintaining oversight.

Sponsor Senator Milner told the committee that recent court decisions and the expected House v. NCAA settlement are reshaping college athletics, and the bill “provides direct compensation for athletes for the name the use of their names, images, and likenesses.” He said the bill would protect student-athletes from penalties by outside athletic associations, require audits every five years, and leave institutions discretion over which athletes receive payments.

Milner said the compensation mechanism would not use state tax dollars: “These are funds that are gonna come in from television and media contracts and other kinds of things. Now, there will not be any state money in this,” he said, adding the funds would come from private donations or media revenue.

Committee members asked about public-records and student-privacy implications. Senator Fillmore asked whether university payments would make athlete compensation public records. Milner replied that student privacy remains subject to FERPA and that disclosures “could be subject to GRAMA” for public records requests and that the committee and sponsor would need to work through those questions.

Senator Riebe delivered a wider policy critique: while she said she would vote for the bill, she criticized the emphasis on athletics and the higher pay for coaches, calling it “unfortunate that our highest paid employees in this most states are our coaches.” Senator Milner and others replied they were acting to protect Utah institutions’ ability to compete nationally.

Senator Hinkins moved that the committee pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation; the committee chair called the voice vote unanimous.

The measure is aimed primarily at the state's larger universities, the sponsor said, and will vary in application across institutions depending on media contracts and private fundraising. The bill includes auditing and transparency provisions; the committee recorded no roll-call tally in its voice vote, and the motion passed as reported by the chair.

","The Senate Education Committee unanimously advanced first-substitute House Bill 449, which would enable Utah colleges to provide student-athletes compensation tied to name, image and likeness (NIL) arrangements while requiring oversight and periodic audits, sponsors said.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":41,"_42":101,"_44":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":106,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":107,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72},6304364,"Senate education committee sends bill to clarify rural school funding formula",1622000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205&start=1622&end=1622","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2465386-889604b5410110a4fb9b2e854d658205/thumbnail_1622000.jpg","/articles/6304364/Utah/Senate-education-committee-sends-bill-to-clarify-rural-school-funding-formula","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304364-50a1755eb58ac610fc774750998b442a/orig.mp4?Expires=1769995259&Signature=KSKnIFmPRr-tl0a9A59qkuuWq2N2Ero4sR6JklQ27sN2cl8P1dXS5fJsvLD4P1BMxMLVIqnLb8zCNGdgQQH5EeWg83G8JpzE-VN0flmogINzi15tu7XyhwYzxWsU1cES4NeNAV9IUj3c23qvZpmV8DzRXrP6bKaAQToaDqsCOm5M437bx3Qna-~FtKygd-mOGT0Ki6G8tDYyIkvHJGHPgXiZHaVNuRC68PC-qDyVObTXOHerSig7RsDyrLmQSnmpbtH~u1ld8aQdRduRGIcFaA9Cgkuopvix1dYwjyZHkWT0t3RrjUiJskt-pUB6W1YH~ldZT3qYRWb4nTCDcWF4Kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate committee on an unanimous voice vote advanced House Bill 396, a measure that defines eligibility and adjusts how the state supports small, rural school districts.

The bill clarifies the existing NES rural-school funding formula and creates two funding tracks keyed to district population, sponsor Kobe Willis, superintendent of Piute County School District, told the committee. “This bill addresses the NES formula, which is the formula to fund rural school districts,” Willis said, saying the measure “provides a clear definition of what qualifies and what does not.”

Why it matters: supporters said the current formula produces inconsistent results and perverse incentives for small districts. Willis described a case in which “one county consolidated two schools, and they lost $500,000 as a result,” and another where a school shifted a grade to gain funding. Willis said the bill also builds a mechanism for schools to “gradually transition off the formula” as enrollment grows.

State Board of Education members publicly backed the measure. Molly Hart, vice chair of the State Board of Education, said the board was involved from the start and made a unanimous recommendation in committee; she urged the senators to vote yes. Jenny Earl, a State Board member, said the work this interim created a “framework so they know how to move forward,” and added, “I support this bill.”

Senator Reby moved to send HB 396 with a favorable recommendation; the committee chair called the motion and “the chair rules that (it is) unanimous.” The motion passed and the bill will proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.

Supporters said the bill reduces subjectivity in eligibility, accounts for economies of scale and geography, and returns final funding responsibility to the Legislature rather than leaving it to the State Board. The sponsor and rural superintendents emphasized the practice of using one-time funds for recurring rural expenses has left districts fiscally vulnerable.

The committee did not record any amendments or a roll-call tally in the transcript; the chair characterized the approval as unanimous.

The bill now moves to the next Senate floor step where senators will have the opportunity to debate and vote on the measure.

","The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously to send House Bill 396, which refines eligibility and scale provisions for the state’s rural-school funding formula, to the full Senate after rural superintendents and the State Board of Education backed the changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel approves flag-display measure after hours of public testimony; vote 4-1

Committee advances bill to prioritize online course funding for isolated rural schools

Committee advances bill to let colleges compensate athletes under NIL framework; sponsors emphasize oversight

Senate education committee sends bill to clarify rural school funding formula