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House debates scholarship boost, declines early-graduation measure
Summary
Lawmakers debated a bill to raise the Centennial Scholarship for students graduating early from $1,000 to $2,000 and to require districts to notify families of early‑graduation options; the House voted against the first-substitute version, 32–39.
The Utah House considered first substitute Senate Bill 33 on Feb. 26, a measure sponsors said aimed to encourage early high‑school graduation and reduce college remedial courses. Representative Kevin McKay, floor sponsor, said the bill would raise the Centennial Scholarship for early graduates from $1,000 to $2,000 and require districts to provide eighth‑grade families with examples of graduation pathways and college‑readiness coursework.
Opponents questioned whether the increase had an identified appropriation and objected to mandating local districts to change practice. Representative Mike Brown asked who would pay the additional scholarship dollars, and urged that local districts should retain discretion; Representative Ben Edwards pressed for utilization data, noting the bill used the statutory name "Centennial Scholarship." McKay said the fiscal effects would net to the education fund and argued the change would save money long term by reducing remediation.
After brief debate, members voted. The House recorded 32 yea and 39 nay votes on the first substitute; the bill was returned to the Senate for filing. No final appropriation for the scholarship increase was resolved on the House floor during the Feb. 26 consideration.
The House action leaves the scholarship proposal unresolved in this form; sponsors said they intend to continue work to clarify fiscal impacts and implementation details.
