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Senate passes third substitute of education funding equalization bill after heated debate
Summary
The Utah Senate voted to pass the third substitute of Senate Bill 111, a property-tax-driven education funding equalization measure, 16–12 with one absent after extended debate over diverting local growth dollars to classroom technology and concerns about fiscal notes.
The Utah State Senate on the floor passed the third substitute of Senate Bill 111, an education funding equalization measure that changes how some local property-tax growth is used, on a roll-call vote announced by the clerk as 16 yeas, 12 nays and 1 absent.
Senator John Osman (Sponsor) said the substitution restores a repealer section and makes technical fixes to preserve school land trust law provisions that were unintentionally removed. He urged colleagues to consider the proposal as a 'minimal impact', phased approach to correct local property-tax inequities.
Opponents, led by Senator Jones, warned the change effectively diverts growth in property-tax revenue toward technology spending and risked raising homeowners' property-tax bills. 'I think this stinks,' Jones said, urging caution about committing growth dollars for four years to technology purchases. Several senators cited constituent emails and media coverage raising concerns about cost, durability and privacy implications of one-to-one device programs.
Supporters, including Senator Stevenson, argued the measure would provide modest, targeted resources that could free school budgets to maintain existing programs while expanding personalized learning where evidence shows it helps students. During floor debate senators discussed fiscal estimates: a referenced fiscal note mentioned roughly $12,000,000 in year one and $44,000,000 in year two for the funding stream discussed during amendment debate; proponents said that represented a small percentage change in the statewide WPU (weighted pupil unit).
A parliamentary question arose when senators noted a fiscal note did not appear for the third substitute on the clerk's online materials. Senators reviewed rules: the presiding officer followed custom that a substitute that does not materially change fiscal impact may proceed; members discussed whether to suspend rules but ultimately proceeded after a call of the Senate was lifted.
Senator DeBacus, who said she voted for an earlier version with reluctance, explained she opposed the final substitute because she feared the funds would be used for what she called an experimental ramp-up of one-to-one tablet purchases at the expense of other classroom needs.
The clerk announced the bill 'passes' and will be sent to the House for consideration. Sponsor and critics signaled further negotiation will continue as the House considers the measure.
The Senate then moved on to other business and adjourned later in the day.
End of coverage: Clerk announced passage and transmittal to the House.
