Senate approves $10 million textbook appropriation amid questions about source of funds

The Utah Senate voted to pass House Bill 162, a $10 million appropriation intended to fund textbooks and classroom supplies for public schools.

Senators questioned the bill's funding source during floor debate. Senator Hilliard asked whether the $10 million comes from the uniform school fund or the general fund; staff and sponsors pointed to the bill's ‘‘purple page’’ showing the appropriation from the uniform school fund with an automatic feed from the general fund only if surplus is insufficient. "The money is in the purple page coming out of the uniform school fund," a senator summarized on the floor.

Senators also discussed restrictions on distribution: the bill conditions distribution on districts having implemented fee-waiver policies consistent with state law, and senators specifically noted that the statute requires local boards to adopt waiver rules to receive funds. Several senators expressed concern that districts are not reimbursed when they waive fees, a point sponsors said was outside the scope of this bill and better addressed in education or appropriations committee work.

Supporters said the allocation reflected districts’ requests for needed materials — "this is the amount turned in, and it is the intent of the legislature to appropriate this money as a solution to the books and supply problem," a floor leader said. Opponents raised practical concerns about waiver reimbursements but did not stop the measure.

The Senate called the question and recorded 26 ayes, no nays and 3 absent; the bill was signed by the president in open session and transmitted back to the House for further action.