House panel outlines $128 million boost for Utah public schools as HB 475 is placed on third-reading calendar

Representative Bradford, speaking as the House appropriations presenter, told members that House Bill 475, the School Finance Act, would add a series of targeted increases to public education funding. "We have included $10,000,000 just to fund the growth that we've had in new students entering our public education system," Bradford said, and listed a package of measures he said were included in the act: a $1,000 salary increase for every teacher, an additional 4 percent on the weighted pupil unit, $12,000,000 to address Social Security and retirement shortfalls, and supplementary and ongoing funding for textbooks and supplies.

"That totals $83,000,000 new dollars that we are putting into the public education system this year," Bradford said, adding that when combined with $45,000,000 in one-time supplemental appropriations and potential local revenue from a 2-mil leeway, "we're infusing $128,000,000 of new money into our public education system." He also noted line-item increases including $1,200,000 for handicap programs and $5,800,000 spread across the minimum school program.

The motion to consider HB 475 under suspension of the rules was made at the opening of the session and, after an initial withdrawal while members located the bill, was reintroduced and carried; the House placed the bill on the third-reading calendar for further consideration. Representative Brown deferred detailed presentation to Bradford, who urged members' support and commended legislative staff who worked on the act.

No final third-reading vote on HB 475 is recorded in the transcript excerpt. The House recessed briefly for caucus before proceeding with other concurrence votes and calendar business.