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House amends uniform bill, lowers approval threshold to majority and approves measure
Summary
House amends HB 155 to require a simple majority (down from 60%) for parent approval when a school or district adopts a uniform requirement; the bill passed after amendment, 65-5.
The Utah House on Feb. 22 approved changes to school uniform procedures in House Bill 155 after members adopted an amendment replacing a 60% approval requirement with a simple majority.
Representative Karen W. Morgan, sponsor of the measure, described HB 155 as creating a process that gives parents a direct vote on whether a school or district may require uniforms. The bill requires a public hearing and an election with one vote per family and included an opt-out for families. Morgan said evidence from schools that have adopted uniforms shows reductions in truancy, suspensions and other disciplinary problems.
Representative Throckmorton offered an amendment (line 41) to change the required approval threshold from 60% to a simple majority; the House adopted that amendment after debate over parental choice and implementation difficulty. Members raised concerns about the cost of district elections and whether requiring district-wide elections might make implementation harder, while supporters said the change restored a basic majority-rule principle.
The House voted to pass the amended bill 65-5. The measure will be transmitted to the Senate for further action.
Context: Debate highlighted tension between parental input and local implementation costs; the fiscal note cited possible local election costs ranging from $1 million to $3 million depending on district actions, a figure the sponsor disputed and opponents referenced when urging caution.
