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Utah House passes omnibus education budget after hours of debate over preschool tech, class size, charter funding
Summary
The Utah House passed First Substitute Senate Bill 2, the minimum school program budget, after extended floor debate and multiple amendments on March 5; key fights centered on whether to reallocate preschool home‑computer funding to class‑size reduction, how to fund teacher stipends and benefits, differential pay rules, charter school funding formulas and a technical $1 million funding adjustment. The bill passed the House 63–12 and was sent to the Senate.
The Utah House of Representatives approved First Substitute Senate Bill 2, a wide-ranging minimum school program budget bill, after several hours of debate and multiple floor amendments on March 5.
Representative Last, sponsor of the omnibus education package, told members the bill bundled several earlier education proposals and said he had intentionally included some measures (including language from a previously failed House bill) so the body could address them in one vehicle. "If the appropriation provides for a full $200 a day for 10 days and covers the benefits, great. But if it doesn't, we still have to cover those benefits," Last said in response to questions about how stipend payments would be treated for benefits.
Much of the floor fight focused on tradeoffs among early‑childhood supports, class‑size reduction and targeted teacher pay. Representative Morgan offered a substitute amendment to remove language and funding from House Bill 200 (a program to provide home computer/Internet access and software for preschool children) and redirect those…
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