House adopts substitute language to align reading initiative with U PASS; floor vote opened

The Utah House adopted a first substitute for House Bill 145 that seeks to strengthen and coordinate the state's reading initiative with the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students (U PASS). The substitution was approved on the floor and subsequent amendments were debated and adopted before the measure proceeded to a floor vote.

Sponsor Representative Morgan said the substitute integrates U PASS wording into the statute governing the reading initiative so the two statutes "coordinate and don't overlap." Morgan said the measure expects each elementary school to have a reading achievement plan, to identify struggling readers and provide help, and to report results. He told the chamber that "$5,000,000 in ongoing funding is already in place attached to this initiative."

Debate centered on how prescriptive state law should be about local priorities. Representative Fairey and others moved to delete language (lines 73–74 of the substitute) that would declare reading the "top priority" for kindergarten through third grade; opponents argued that declaring a top statewide priority was appropriate to secure consistent outcomes. The motion to amend that language passed on division, 35–28.

Supporters said the substitute is not a rigid mandate; Morgan said it places responsibility on each school to develop a plan appropriate to its needs rather than prescribing a specific plan. After further discussion and sponsor summation, the House opened voting on the first substitute as amended (floor voting was opened during the session). The transcript does not record a final passage tally on the floor vote in the excerpt provided.

Next steps: The first substitute was on the floor for a recorded vote after amendment; the transcript ends with voting open on the first substitute House Bill 145 as amended.