House approves changes to Utah Fits All scholarship, tightens oversight and spending rules

Representative Perucci opened debate on second-substitute House Bill 4 55, the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program amendments, saying the changes are intended to add guardrails, clarify program management and stabilize the scholarship for future years. “By having robust education options for our children such as homeschool, private school, charter school, micro school, and traditional district schools, we empower parents with tools to tailor their child's education,” Representative Perucci said.

The bill makes several substantive changes to the program that began operations in the 2023-24 academic year. Sponsors and supporters described the amendments as (1) tightening definitions of household income and “primary resident” to confirm Utah residency before awards are made, (2) adjusting scholarship amounts for home-based learners, (3) clarifying allowable and prohibited uses of scholarship funds, (4) creating an orientation and appeals process for providers, (5) requiring prior…