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Senate advances major school-funding package, approves SB 5 with a 6% WPU increase; votes at a glance
Summary
The Utah Senate passed Senate Bill 5, a multi-part minimum school program funding bill including a 6% increase in the weighted pupil unit and pilots for math improvement; the chamber adopted several amendments and passed the bill 24–4–1. The session recorded multiple other concurrence and third-reading votes that were referred to the House.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 28 passed Senate Bill 5, a major package of amendments to the minimum school program that the sponsor described as allocating new money for enrollment growth, teacher quality, interventions, pupil transportation and a 6% increase in the weighted pupil unit (WPU).
Floor action and amendments Senators adopted several floor changes, including a temporary foreign-exchange-student provision and statutory language to create a charter-school study and a cap mechanism (five charters or 5,000 students, the lesser) for short-term management of charter growth. Sponsor Senator Stevenson said the bill represents commitments made when revenues improved and that it directs $63.5 million in new money with $44.7 million from general and education funds.
Roll-call result The Senate passed SB 5 on a roll call with 24 aye votes, 4 nay votes and 1 absent; the bill will be referred to the House for further action. Floor-recorded debate included concerns about whether the WPU increase could have been larger and questions about rural equity for pilot programs.
Votes at a glance (selected items recorded on Feb. 28) - First substitute Senate Bill 68 (plumbing license qualifications): concurred and passed in final passage, 26–0 (referred to House). - Senate Bill 168 (Community Association Act amendments): passed final passage 27–0. - Senate Bill 240 (temporary Medicaid certification of nursing-home beds): passed 27–0. - House Bill 76 (high-deductible health plan option for public employees): passed 19–9–1. - First substitute House Bill 85 (parental-notification/consent for minors): passed 28–1 (returned to House with amendments). - First substitute House Bill 72 (workers' compensation): passed 25–0 (as amended). - House Bill 31 (pilot program for services to people with disabilities): passed 24–0. - Senate Bill 5 (minimum school program funding, WPU + pilots and charter study): passed 24–4–1.
What to watch next Because many of the bills were amended in the Senate they were returned to the House for enrollment or concurrence. The signed bills will be transmitted for enrolling and the House may accept or negotiate Senate amendments; several items are fiscal-note bills that will require action by the House as it continues its calendar.
