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Task force outlines $25 million appropriation, $24.5 million available for school safety grants
Summary
Legislative staff and education officials told the School Security Task Force that the 2025 Legislature appropriated $25 million for school safety grants; after a $500,000 intent‑language correction $24.5 million remains available and can be distributed via general or targeted grants, with the task force's expiration affecting future general grants.
Micah Wixom, legislative research and general counsel for the task force, told members the 2025 general session included a $25,000,000 appropriation for school safety and support grants. "This is the third legislative appropriation for school safety and support grants," he said, and explained that an intent‑language adjustment frees $24,500,000 for grant awards.
Wixom described two grant types: "general grants" approved by the task force and available to most or all local education agencies, and "targeted grants" awarded to specific LEAs for needs identified in school assessments. He warned that once the task force expires at the end of the year, the panel will no longer be in place to approve future general grants, leaving only targeted grants available to LEAs.
Chantal Cota, director of school safety and student services at the Utah State Board of Education, provided operational context. She said the FY24 school‑safety and support grant totaled approximately $72,000,000 and was awarded to 114 LEAs; progress reports show about $43,000,000 of that pot has been spent to date. For FY25 she said roughly $40,000,000 was appropriated to 132 LEAs and noted many LEAs still have contracts in process.
Wixom and Cota both emphasized the importance of progress reports and procurement compliance. Wixom added that $500,000 of the recent appropriation had been discussed for a software tracking component; because of a drafting mismatch that $500,000 will be reabsorbed into the grant pot.
Next steps: the task force's grant subcommittee will continue reviewing eligible uses and priorities, and members said they expect recommendations before the panel's December meeting.
