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House amends Regents Scholarship rules to include college‑level coursework; bill advances to Senate
Summary
House Bill 284 was amended to allow students doing college‑level work to qualify for the Regents Scholarship; members debated a $12.6 million fiscal note and funding process before the House passed the bill 58–13 and transmitted it to the Senate.
Representative Dougal brought House Bill 284 to the floor to address a perceived problem with the Regents Scholarship eligibility rules that some members said penalize students who take college‑level concurrent enrollment courses. Dougal argued the bill would recognize "students performing at college level" and avoid discouraging advanced coursework.
Supporters recounted testimony from students and instructors whose college‑level classes were not being accepted under the current rules. Representative Noel described a student who took advanced physics from a University of Utah professor but could not qualify for the scholarship under present language. Representative Gibson and others framed the bill as helping students transfer credit and relieving enrollment pressure on higher‑education institutions.
Opponents pressed the fiscal note — cited around $12.6 million — and worried about committing ongoing funding without a prioritization process. Representative King urged caution, calling the fiscal exposure a potential "PR disaster" if funds could not be sustained. The sponsor and others said the bill would need to move through the regular prioritization and fiscal process.
After debate and summations, the House voted 58 yes, 13 no to pass first substitute House Bill 284, and the bill was transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.
