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Senate passes education supplement; signing-bonus amendment fails
Summary
The Utah Senate on March 10 passed Second Substitute House Bill 2, approving education spending increases and a higher WPU value; Senators rejected an amendment to reallocate $2 million for signing bonuses for high-need teachers and later defeated two small amendments to redirect funds to U.C.A.T. programs.
The Utah Senate on March 10 passed Second Substitute House Bill 2, a supplemental education appropriations bill that increases K‑12 spending and raises the value of the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) to $2,816 from $2,577.
Senator Butters, sponsor of the measure, told the chamber the bill increases total education spending by about $51.3 million, authorizes charter schools to enroll roughly 7,100 additional students and restores several line items, including $2.6 million to the School Land Trust Fund. "All in all restored plus the millions we're talking about," he said while outlining restoration of administrative cost funding.
Senator Jerry Stevenson offered Amendment 1 to the bill to fund signing bonuses for highly qualified math, science and special‑education teachers. "This takes $2,000,000 from the flexible allocation WPU distribution ... and puts it for the public education job enhancement program, the signing bonus program," Stevenson said, urging colleagues that signing bonuses help recruit teachers in short supply.
Supporters noted the program's prior success; opponents raised process and equity concerns. Senator Morgan argued the flexible allocation had effectively been swept into the WPU and warned the shift would reduce district WPU funding. Senator Hilliard cautioned that the change had not been part of committee votes and could force extended conference negotiations with the House.
A roll‑call on the amendment recorded 12 yeas and 17 nays; the amendment failed. Senator Butters then moved the bill for final passage under suspension of the rules. The Senate approved Second Substitute House Bill 2 by roll call, 28 yeas, 0 nays, 1 absent. The bill will be returned to the House for further action.
During later floor debate Senator Howard Stevenson proposed several smaller reallocations aimed at ending waiting lists at Applied Technology Colleges (UCAT) — including a $2 million amendment to target programs with 80%+ placement and a $1.35 million amendment for programs with 90%+ placement — but those motions failed or were not adopted.
What happens next: The bill, as passed by the Senate, will return to the House for concurrence on any Senate amendments and final enrollment.
