Senate approves changes to Utah Fits All scholarship; homeschool awards reduced, means-testing prioritized

The Utah Senate on Feb. 27 approved second-substitute House Bill 455, the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments, by a roll-call vote after floor debate and questions. The chamber voted to read the bill a third time and pass it 26–1 with two senators absent.

The bill, presented in the Senate by Senator Mike Cullimore, makes several changes to the scholarship program established in 2023, including tighter residency verification, different scholarship amounts for students in home-based education, new prioritization rules tied to family income and an annual audit requirement.

Cullimore told the Senate the bill is a “cleanup” to improve clarity, efficiency and accountability for the program after its first year of implementation. He said roughly 10,000 students have received scholarships and about 17,000 remain on a waiting list, adding pressure to refine program rules.

Key provisions passed in the amendment package: scholarships for families using home-based education are reduced from $8,000 to $4,000 for elementary students and to $6,000 for middle- and high-school students; private school scholarship amounts remain unchanged at $8,000; priority in awards will be given via a tiered system that favors families at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; extracurricular and physical-education expenses are capped at 20% of the scholarship; and the program will undergo an annual audit. The bill also codifies a list of allowable and prohibited uses for scholarship funds and tightens residency and income verification procedures.

Senator Reedy, who said he voted for the bill in committee though he does not support the program generally, pressed the sponsor for the rationale behind the reduction in the homeschool award. Cullimore explained the change is intended to stretch the program so more students may be served and noted that private school tuition often exceeds the scholarship amount. Senator Wyler said he would vote no on final passage to signal concern from some homeschool constituents who feel disadvantaged by the reduction.

Senator Cullimore moved the motion to read the bill a third time and for final passage; the clerk recorded 26 yea votes, 1 nay and 2 absent. The bill will proceed to the House for further action.

The changes take effect according to the bill's statutory timing provisions and will be subject to the annual audit requirement embedded in the legislation.