Utah House ends 2012 session after passing education, budget and wildlife bills

The Utah House of Representatives adjourned sine die on March 8 after a late-night session that approved the final appropriations bill and a slate of measures on education, public safety and wildlife management.

Lawmakers adopted the session’s omnibus spending bill, House Bill 3, and returned it to the Senate for final action after approving several amendments that reallocated funds to services for people with disabilities and to juvenile facilities. Representative Mel Brown, sponsor of the appropriation bill, told colleagues the package balances the budget and reflects the session’s spending priorities.

The chamber also approved a set of education measures. Lawmakers passed a substitute of the Smart School Technology Act (Senate Bill 248), a $3 million grant program to fund whole‑school technology pilots and teacher training, to be administered with involvement from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the State Board of Education. Representative Handy described the program as vendor‑neutral and intended to fund several schools through competitive RFPs.

On special‑education and student services, the House approved changes to curriculum and concurrent‑enrollment measures…