House approves wider parental review of statewide test questions, 66‑4

The Utah House voted 66‑4 on Feb. 20 to pass first substitute House Bill 81, expanding a parent review panel that reviews statewide summative test questions.

Sponsor Representative Timothy Kennedy described the measure as a compromise balancing parental involvement and test integrity. The legislation increases the parent panel from 15 to 30 members, shortens panel terms and preserves nondisclosure safeguards. Kennedy said computer‑adaptive testing and a roughly 11,000‑question item bank make full parental access impractical, and argued the panel process protects test security while offering meaningful review.

Representative Moss proposed an amendment to require partisan diversity among parent appointees; that amendment failed on the floor after members debated whether partisan screening would politicize the panel. Supporters of the bill, including members who observed past panels, said parents signed nondisclosure agreements and provided useful feedback such as cultural sensitivity and factual corrections in sample questions.

Opponents raised concerns about teachers not having access to the item bank and about preserving test integrity; sponsors responded that the panel process was developed with the State Office of Education and that safeguards are in place. With 66 yeas and 4 nays, the House passed the bill and will transmit it to the Senate for consideration.