Legislators press Utah High School Activities Association on transfer rules, conflicts and discovery

The Rules Review and General Oversight Committee heard a presentation from the Utah High School Activities Association on Nov. 6, 2025, outlining the association’s governance and its process for investigating and deciding violation complaints, transfers and appeals.

Rob Cuff, UHSAA executive director, told the committee the association is governed by a 15‑member board of trustees and served 160 member schools and about 114,000 participants. He described a member‑driven complaint process in which schools generally self‑report by informing their region board of managers; the region board’s recommendation becomes binding after 10 calendar days if no hearing is requested. Any person or school charged with violating UHSAA rules is entitled to a hearing, and appeals are heard by panels drawn from the executive committee or board of trustees that do not include members from the same region as the parties involved, Cuff said.

Senator McKay, who led the committee’s questioning, pressed Cuff on how complaints typically arise and how panels are selected. Cuff said 60 to 70 percent of complaints are self‑reports by member schools and that he selects hearing panels from the executive committee and board of trustees, eliminating members with conflicts of interest and choosing available members who have not served recently.

Several lawmakers raised concerns that the panel selection process may not fully capture the subtle conflicts that can exist between public, charter and private schools. Representative Thurston and Representative Walter described competition for students and the growing influence of name, image and likeness (NIL) incentives at higher levels of sport as reasons the committee should scrutinize how panels are constituted and how cases are handled. "We need more structure," Cuff said in response to a question about why some states that tried a blanket no‑transfer rule reversed course, saying such changes had produced "super teams" and academic instability.

Lawmakers also urged better discovery and notice procedures so accused schools and individuals have clearer information before hearings. Senator McKay suggested improving mandatory disclosure and reducing surprise evidence in hearings; Cuff said panel members are chosen to avoid conflicts and that legal counsel attends hearings.

Representative Thurston and other members singled out recruiting and "undue influence" complaints — often centered on transfer students and inducements to change schools — as the UHSAA’s most time‑consuming work. "Those are the things that are heavy on our plate," UHSAA assistant director Brennan Jackson said. Senator Kwan and others asked about safety and supervision at away games after prior incidents involving specific teams; Cuff credited improved district supervision in the cited cases.

Multiple lawmakers offered to work with the UHSAA on reforms. Cuff said the UHSAA would meet with committee members and board leadership to discuss improvements to panel selection, discovery and the transfer appeals process.

The committee did not take formal action on UHSAA rules during the hearing but directed staff to follow up with the association on potential statutory or best‑practice changes, and several members signaled interest in drafting legislation or guidance to address conflicts, discovery and transfer rules.

For now, the UHSAA told the committee it will continue to use region boards, the executive committee and board of trustees to investigate and adjudicate violations, and that transfer of student eligibility retains a separate appeals path involving appointees approved by the state board of education.