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Senate advances education governance bill and approves $1 million pilot for site‑based decision‑making
Summary
Lawmakers forwarded SB 18, which creates a governor-appointed nominating committee to screen state school board candidates, and placed SB 30—authorizing a $1 million, three‑year pilot for site‑based decision‑making—on the third-reading calendar. Floor amendments sought to protect collective‑bargaining agreements and limit partisan imbalance on nominating committees.
The Utah Senate moved a pair of education measures forward on its fifth day: SB 18, a governance reform that changes how state school board candidates are screened, and SB 30, a three‑year site‑based decision‑making pilot that would fund up to 20 schools.
SB 18, reported favorably from the task force on governance, sets a process for a governor‑appointed seven‑member nominating committee (with representatives from education segments, parents and at-large members) to present 3–5 candidates for the ballot from which the governor nominates two names for the general election. Sponsor Dixie Levitt described the approach as a balance between screening and retaining election by voters.
Several floor amendments and motions addressed partisanship and representation on the nominating committee. Senator Millie Peterson proposed a limit on the number of members of one political party; that amendment failed. A proposal to allow the largest teacher association to nominate three names for a committee slot was also considered and failed.
SB 30 would authorize up to 20 schools to participate in a site‑based decision‑making pilot and requests a one‑time appropriation of $1,000,000 to fund the initiative over three years (first year $25,000 per school, second year $15,000, third year $10,000). An amendment inserted language clarifying that nothing in the section permits unilateral waiver of district employee agreements; that amendment passed unanimously. On procedural grounds the bill was later tabled because the fiscal note exceeded a threshold for floor action and will be taken up in caucus discussion.
What happens next: SB 18 and SB 30 were both placed on the third‑reading calendar; SB 30 was subsequently tabled pending caucus review of the fiscal impact. Further consideration will address funding and implementation details.
