Under The Dome: Capitol Insights from UEA

Senate committee advances bills on library policies, curriculum

February 13, 2026

SB 253: Library Materials Amendments

Sen. Michael McKell, R-Utah County, introduced SB 253, which would require local education agencies to adopt a collection development policy outlining library collection and development practices. The bill would also require LEAs to adopt a policy for reconsidering materials in their library collections.

Under the bill, library practices in each school would be under the direction of a teacher librarian or a language arts teacher.

Christy Giblon, president of the Provo Education Association, spoke in favor of the legislation. The Senate Education Committee voted 3-2 to pass the bill with a favorable recommendation.

SB 268: Religious Curriculum in Schools

Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Davis and Salt Lake counties, presented SB 268, which would amend the statutory requirement that Utah State Board of Education-created standards for American constitutional government and citizenship include “the role of religion in United States history and the primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government.”

The bill also lists a lengthy set of optional religious topics that may be included in instruction.

The Utah Education Association opposes the bill, citing concerns that it would establish a new standard for the 2026-27 school year without sufficient time to revise standards or train teachers on the new requirements. Sara Jones, UEA director of government relations, raised concerns about the implementation timeline during public comment. The committee voted 5-1 to pass the bill.

HB 399 stalls in committee as other House Ed bills advance

February 13, 2026

HB 399 Sub 1 — Prohibition Against Student Character Tracking and Grading Systems
Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Davis County, presented the bill, which would prohibit character education in public schools, including social and emotional learning. The bill would also prohibit “measuring, quantifying, tracking or grading” a student on character education, require the state auditor to collect and report complaints, and create a private right of action for parents to sue. The committee held extensive discussion, though public comment was limited to a few individuals. UEA opposes the bill, and the committee voted unanimously to hold it — meaning no action was taken. The bill could return on a future agenda, but that is unlikely.

HB 197 Sub 4 — School Materials Amendments
Rep. Nicholeen Peck, R-Tooele County, presented a significantly changed and pared-down version of her original bill. The bill would prohibit a local education agency from making available to students material that has been banned through the sensitive materials removal process, which is already law. It would also require an LEA to review all instructional materials for compliance with sensitive materials regulations before they are made available to students. UEA opposes the bill, which passed 9-4.

HB 36 Sub 1 — Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program
Rep. Katy Hall, R-Davis and Weber counties, presented the bill creating a five-year pilot program in rural area elementary schools to promote physical activity and healthy eating habits. The bill would be funded through $3 million in federal rural health transformation funds earmarked for the program. UEA supports the bill, which passed unanimously.

HCR 11 — Resolution Urging Healthy Activities in Schools
Hall also presented a resolution encouraging public schools to prioritize healthy eating education and physical activity. The resolution is nonbinding and would simply encourage schools to participate. It passed unanimously.

HB 440 Sub 1 — School Lunch Amendments
Rep. Tiara Auxier, R-Morgan, Rich and Summit counties, presented a proposal requiring an elementary School Community Council to annually hold a school lunch planning meeting with a structure prescribed in detail in the bill. The purpose is to move toward a goal of 20 minutes of seat time for lunch and having recess before lunch. The bill narrowly passed 7-5.

HB 312 Sub 2 — School Curriculum and Standards Modifications
Auxier presented a significantly revised version of a bill that had been held by the committee earlier in the session. Sub 2 incorporates provisions from Rep. Welton’s bill, HB 518, and would require the Utah State Board of Education to develop “open education resource instructional materials.” UEA opposed the original version but does not yet have a position on Sub 2. The bill passed 13-1.

PEA advances public education budget to EAC; UEA flags stabilization fund concerns

February 11, 2026

The Public Education Appropriations Committee (PEA) unanimously approved its final public education budget proposal on Tuesday and forwarded it to the Executive Appropriations Committee.

Utah Education Association will closely watch EAC’s review, particularly any plan to shift money from the Public Education Stabilization Account, a “rainy day” fund intended to protect full funding of the Weighted Pupil Unit during revenue shortfalls.

UEA is raising urgent questions about the sustainability of drawing on the stabilization account while cutting the income tax. The stabilization account is meant to safeguard public education when revenues are low. Using those funds now to support ongoing programs, while also reducing state revenue, raises concerns about how the state plans to sustainably fund public education in the long run.

The PEA subcommittee reviewed proposed budget cuts and funding priorities, discussed amendments and adopted the final package. 

Subcommittee Chair Whyte said the process was intended to identify a 5% reduction to the public education budget, though he noted the final outcome may not ultimately reflect that. 

The budget cuts are a state recommendation to offset revenue losses from tax cuts in President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill (commonly referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill”), which Congress approved in July 2025.

In a big win for educators and students, PEA’s proposal prioritized funding for one of UEA’s priority bills, S.B. 75 Educator Salary Adjustment Eligibility (Rep. Calvin Musselman, R-Weber County), which adds school nurses to the educator salary adjustment. 

UEA will continue to monitor EAC as lawmakers consider changes to the proposal in the coming weeks. The first meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18.

House Ed advances key bills on subs, attendance, tech and ethics

Feb. 10, 2026

The House Education Committee advanced several education bills Monday, including measures focused on substitute teaching, attendance, oversight at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, classroom technology and ethics standards for Utah State Board of Education members.

SB 52: Substitute Teaching Requirements Amendments
This bill removes a prohibition on hiring a non-licensed substitute teacher as a long-term substitute, while maintaining the requirement that schools prioritize licensed educators for substitute roles when possible. UEA supports the bill. It passed unanimously.

SB 58 (Sub. 4): Public School Attendance Amendments
The bill addresses issues related to student chronic absenteeism. UEA supports the bill. It passed the committee unanimously.

HB 448 (Sub. 1): Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind Amendments
Recent legislative audits identified a need for increased oversight and strategic planning at the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind. Developed through USBE workgroups and stakeholder input over many months, the bill addresses four key areas: mission, governance, facilities and data. It passed unanimously.

HB 273 (Sub. 2): Classroom Technology Amendments
Known as the Balance Act, the bill requires USBE to create a model AI policy for LEAs and amend computer science course standards. It also limits technology use in elementary grades and establishes a differentiated, grade-level framework for technology use across K-3, 4-6, middle school and high school. The committee held extensive discussion about the impact of the bill’s requirements. UEA’s current position is watch. The bill passed unanimously.

HB 194: Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments
This bill codifies a code of conduct for USBE members and establishes an independent ethics commission to investigate complaints, using language that mirrors the existing legislative ethics commission. The bill passed 9-2.

PEA nears finish as USBE outlines priorities, salary bill advances

February 9, 2026

The Public Education Appropriations Committee (PEA) is nearing the end of its budget work. 

Tuesday, Feb. 10, will be the committee’s final meeting day, when members will submit public education budget priorities to the Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC). The EAC is scheduled to meet Feb. 18-19 to finalize the budget.

At the Friday, Feb. 6, meeting, the Utah State Board of Education provided its final response on 2026 education funding priorities. The board emphasized early literacy and numeracy for grades K-8, including additional K-3 paraprofessional support. The request includes ongoing funding increases and some one-time appropriations, along with continued support for arts education through the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Program. USBE also highlighted staffing capacity needs and the importance of teacher support and mentorship programs, while noting budget pressures, proposed reductions and the need to keep specialized educator salaries competitive.

Lawmakers also heard an appropriations request tied to UEA priority S.B. 75 Educator Salary Adjustment (Sen. Calvin Musselman R-Weber County) to include school nurses in the salary adjustment.

Things to watch: Funding decisions in the coming weeks will directly affect early-grade outcomes and staffing capacity. If salary adjustments and specialized programs are not funded, districts could face greater challenges in recruiting and retaining educators.

Budget Review Highlights: Contracts, Tech, and USDB Under the Microscope

February 6, 2026

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) reviewed major program spending and funding requests on February 4 with a clear focus on accountability as the 5% reduction exercise continues.

USBE walked through how funds in the Contracted Initiatives and Grants line item are distributed across multiple programs and vendors. The discussion focused on ensuring contracts align with legislative priorities and that spending remains accountable under potential budget reductions.

Members also reviewed statewide education technology contracts and their purpose. Some raised concerns about long-term commitments and the need to keep technology investments responsive to classroom and district needs.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind, including legislative audit findings and questions about governance, funding and accountability. USBE presented audit findings that cited long-standing issues, including unclear governance, inconsistent data and reporting, and difficulty tying costs to services and outcomes. Members said the findings were not new and emphasized the need for follow-through.

Members questioned whether USDB’s placement under USBE oversight clearly defines roles and responsibilities. The discussion included whether USDB should operate primarily as a direct-instruction provider or as a statewide service provider supporting local education agencies. Several members said clearer statutory direction is still needed.

USBE also reviewed USDB’s funding model, including weighted salary adjustments tied to specialized staffing. Members raised concerns about understanding which costs are fixed versus variable. During the discussion, concerns were raised about proposals or pressures to move USDB educators off the USBE educator salary schedule and onto the state employee salary schedule as part of broader governance changes.

Stakeholders said the state employee salary schedule does not align with educator compensation models and could undermine recruitment and retention for specialized educators serving deaf and blind students. They also warned it could create inequities between USDB educators and similarly credentialed educators in local education agencies. Members noted the issue could resurface and should be monitored for potential impacts on educator compensation and workforce stability.

Members emphasized the need for better enrollment and service data, clearer cost attribution and more consistent reporting. They said future budget decisions should be guided by reliable information and a stronger link between student needs, services and costs. USDB is expected to remain under close legislative watch, with future funding and staffing decisions tied to improved data and reporting, clearer role definition and coordination with local education agencies, and a continued emphasis on sustainability and accountability.

The committee also reviewed requests for appropriations, including the Research, Writing, and Responsible AI Solution (Scrible); Research-Supported Social Health Instructions (We are Friends); United WE Pledge – Give me Liberty Program; Early Interactive Software Program Grant; Course Choice Empowerment – Enrollment Growth; Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement tied to HB 146 sponsored by Rep. Pieucci; and Special Needs Educational Assemblies (Remarkability Project).

House Education Committee action on curriculum bills

Feb 5, 2026

H.B. 218 Digital Skills Amendments Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-Salt Lake County)
This bill changes the requirements for concepts taught in a digital skills course currently required in grade 7 or 8. The bill does not have a fiscal note, so it is not clear how the new standards would be taught to educators responsible for teaching the new concepts. The timeline for implementation is the 2027-28 school year. The bill passed 9-0.

H.B. 312 Civic Education Modifications Rep. Ken Ivory (R-Salt Lake County)
H.B. 312 creates a new requirement for “spiral instruction” on “foundational documents” from kindergarten through grade 12. The requirements for spiral instruction are highly prescriptive and would necessitate developing materials and training educators. The committee did not take action on the bill but voted to hold the bill in committee for further consideration.

H.B. 317 Social Health in Public Education Curriculum Rep. Ken Ivory (R-Salt Lake County)
After extensive committee and public comment, the original version of H.B. 317 was amended to leave in a new definition of “social health” and remove a requirement for teaching social health as part of the elementary health curriculum. The bill passed 8-4.

UEA Opposes SB 85, SB 54 as HB 399 Raises New Concerns

February 3, 2026

Two Senate bills sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore (R-Salt Lake County) advanced out of the Senate Education Committee, alongside a separate House proposal that the Utah Education Association strongly opposes.

SB 85: Merit pay pilot expansion advances

Sen. Fillmore presented SB 85, a change to a teacher merit pay pilot program first established in 2024. The program provides merit pay for teachers in participating LEAs if they rank in the top 25% of teachers statewide, based on student assessments, parent surveys, professional evaluations and other factors. The bill expands the pilot program to allow teachers to self-nominate if their LEA does not participate because only six districts and 18 charters are currently participating. UEA opposed the original bill because it bases teacher pay on student assessment and opposes the current bill as well. The bill passed 4-2.

SB 54: Carson Smith scholarship changes pass

SB 54 amends provisions of the existing Carson Smith scholarship by eliminating income-based eligibility requirements to receive the scholarship. UEA opposes the bill and it passed 6-0.

Don’t Undo What Works: UEA Warns HB 399 Limits Student Life Skills

The Utah Education Association strongly opposes H.B. 399 Primary and Secondary Education Amendments sponsored by Rep. Trevor Lee (R-Davis County). The bill would roll back Utah's progress by limiting public schools’ ability to teach essential life skills students need to succeed.

Public schools are places where students cultivate a lifelong love of learning, build meaningful relationships and learn how to be caring and responsible adults. From teaching how to read and write to teaching how we successfully navigate our complicated world, schools can and should be a nurturing place for students to prepare for their future.

Utah has made important progress in supporting student well-being and responding to serious challenges facing young people today, including addressing teen mental health, suicide prevention and unhealthy social media use.

Now is not the time to eliminate successful curriculum and support that help students build resilience, strengthen relationships, and thrive in school, the workplace, and their communities.

Teaching life skills empowers students to succeed in K-12 and beyond. These programs work best when they are designed in partnership with families and schools, not restricted by legislation that limits what students can learn.

PEA reviews charter school line item amid budget-cut talks

February 2, 2026

PEA reviews charter school line item amid budget-cut talks

The Public Education Appropriations Committee continues to meet as lawmakers weigh potential budget reductions across public education. During the Feb. 2, 2026, meeting, the discussion centered on the charter school line item and a proposal that would cut a specific training program.

The Legislative Fiscal Analysts and the Utah State Board of Education jointly recommended eliminating the Charter School Training Programs Revision, estimating savings of about $400,000. Charter school representatives objected, arguing that the training is foundational to charter school operations and that eliminating the funds could affect school quality and compliance with required standards.

As an alternative cost-saving measure, charter school advocates suggested reducing or streamlining certain reporting requirements rather than cutting training dollars. Representatives also emphasized a broader policy goal of expanding the number of charter schools in Utah.

The committee also discussed an additional charter school appropriations request. Sen. Heidi Balderree (R-Salt Lake & Utah Counties) submitted a $15 million request tied to S.B. 186 Charter School Base Funding Amendments, which would require a comprehensive study of charter school administrative costs and funding options, establish a Charter School Base Funding Study Group, and direct the state board to report findings to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2026. The bill also proposes creating Charter School Education Service Agencies aimed at providing economies of scale for charter schools.

UEA WIN! HB 150 advances to support school speech-language pathologists

January 30, 2026

With around 100 educators attending UEA's Educator Day on the Hill on Friday, the House Education Committee was packed for a hearing on UEA's priority bill, HB 150, which would restore support for school-based speech-language pathologists.

Rep. Jill Koford (R-Weber County) presented HB 150, noting that speech-language pathologists were previously eligible for legislative-funded classroom supply funds but were mistakenly removed from eligibility two years ago. HB 150 reinstates that eligibility.

The bill also makes SLPs eligible for the “salary supplement for highly needed educators” program, which provides stipends for positions local school districts identify as highly needed.

Sarah Cox, president of the Weber Education Association, co-presented the bill with Koford as part of UEA’s priority effort.

During the discussion, Rep. Doug Welton (R-Utah County), a high school educator and UEA member, moved to pass the bill and emphasized the need for supplies, noting that an SLP’s need for classroom materials can be even greater than his own.

 "It's long overdue that we address this," said Rep. Welton. 

The committee passed HB 150 on an 11-2 vote.

Public Education Appropriations (PEA) Update 

 Jan. 29, 2026

The Public Education Appropriations Committee continues to meet to review budget items, consider proposed cuts and hear from agencies, organizations and legislators requesting appropriations as the committee works through options for balancing the FY 2027 public education budget.

Overall status

• PEA continues to work through FY 2027 public education budget pressures, including proposed cuts, base budget adjustments and competing funding requests.
• Agencies and legislators are presenting line-item justifications, reductions and restoration requests as part of a constrained fiscal environment.

Budget reduction context

• Public education is operating under an assumed 5% reduction scenario, with USBE modeling across-the-board impacts.
• Cuts are a result of the loss of federal funding due to the Big Beautiful Bill.
• Many proposals reflect one-time balance cleanups, vacant FTE eliminations or technical corrections, while others would result in real program impacts if adopted.

Key recurring themes

Tension between cuts and investments

• Several educator-focused programs (e.g., National Board Certification incentives, literacy initiatives, turnaround supports) are simultaneously facing proposed reductions and separate requests to expand or restore.

Shift toward targeted and grant-based funding

• Growth-related grants, pilot programs and competitive funding models are being emphasized over broad formula increases.

Capacity and implementation concerns

• Many initiatives assume additional work by LEAs or USBE without corresponding long-term staffing or guaranteed funding.

Use of one-time funds

• Stabilization funds and one-time appropriations are being used to buffer cuts, raising questions about sustainability.

Agency positions

• USBE has concurred with some targeted reductions (e.g., programs tied to closed entities or excess balances).
• In other areas, USBE highlights significant operational or student impacts if ongoing reductions are adopted.
• USBE has also put forward priority requests tied to literacy, educator retention, mental health, STEM and accountability systems.

Legislator-driven appropriations requests

• Requests range from educator incentives and retention strategies to student support and growth-related infrastructure.
• These requests often conflict with LFA reduction recommendations, forcing prioritization decisions.

Implications for public education

• Short term: Likely flattening or reduction of discretionary programs and increased pressure on educator compensation adjustments.
• Long term: Risk of erosion of retention incentives and support programs if ongoing cuts are adopted without restoration.
• Structural concern: Increasing reliance on temporary or competitive funding rather than predictable base investments.

Big-picture takeaway

The committee is trying to balance fiscal restraint with education priorities, but faces difficult trade-offs between maintaining core operations and investing in educator workforce stability and student supports.

Appropriations requests heard Jan. 29, 2026

National Board-Certified Teacher Incentive Program — Rep. John Arthur

• Requested funding to restore and expand educator incentives tied to National Board Certification.

Economic Mobility/Community Partnerships Initiatives (S.B. 165 framework)

• Requested support for a grant program that funds community-based partnerships, with LEAs as optional partners.
• While not a traditional education line item, it “touches public education through literacy, graduation and postsecondary outcomes,” which is why it landed in PEA discussion.

Senate panel advances tax bills that could squeeze school funding and local control

January 29, 2026

The Senate Revenue and Tax Committee advanced three tax bills that could affect how education dollars flow and how much revenue is available for public schools in future years.

S.B. 65, Minimum Basic Tax Rate Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, would route a locally imposed school levy through the state. Under the bill, local school districts would levy and collect the revenue, send it to the state, and the state would redistribute it back to districts. The bill language points to funds flowing through the Uniform School Fund rather than the unrestricted General Fund. Still, concerns remain that centralizing the money could reduce local control and give the Legislature greater discretion over how education dollars are handled. The State Auditor raised concerns about the structure, including potential accounting and legality issues. The committee passed the bill 4-1. Several members urged further work with the State Auditor’s Office. The next step is Senate first reading.

S.B. 116, Income Tax Rate Amendments, also sponsored by Fillmore, would create an automatic tax cut trigger when actual state revenue exceeds projected revenue. The bill would use a formula-based approach rather than requiring lawmakers to vote annually on tax rate changes. Committee members raised concerns about reduced flexibility during economic swings and how automatic reductions could affect long-term revenue stability. Questions were also raised about how the proposal could interact with current 5% budget cut requests for state agencies, including public education. The committee passed the bill 3-2.

S.B. 60, Income Tax Rate Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Dan McCay, would reduce Utah’s income tax rate from 4.5% to 4.45%. Lawmakers questioned the timing of cutting taxes in a year when appropriation committees have been asked to reduce budgets by 5%. Members also noted income tax is a major funding source for education, and even small cuts can add up over time. The committee passed the bill 4-1, along party lines.

House panel advances educator pipeline, fee waiver bill as budget cuts loom

January 28, 2026

Utah lawmakers weighed several education bills Tuesday, Jan. 27, as the House Education Committee voted to advance proposals on school fees, educator workforce needs and school safety policies. Meanwhile, the Public Education Appropriations Committee continued working through proposed cuts tied to federal tax changes, with state leaders modeling how to meet a required 5% budget reduction.

House Education Committee

HB 106, Student Attendance Changes would direct the Utah State Board of Education to study chronic absenteeism, collect data, identify root causes and make policy recommendations to the Legislature by September 2027. The Utah Education Association supports the bill. Committee members focused discussion on how HB 106 would coordinate with existing absenteeism-related laws. The committee voted to hold the bill and revisit it on a future agenda once coordination is complete.

HB 142, School Fee Waiver Amendments would limit fee waivers to two per student for school trips lasting two or more nights. For a second trip, a qualifying student could request a waiver after meeting with the principal to develop an action plan that includes a school-related contribution. UEA opposes the bill. The committee passed HB 142 unanimously.

HB 163, Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program Amendments would expand the state’s existing Grow Your Own Educator program to include licensed special education teachers, in addition to the licensed school counselors, psychologists and social workers it currently supports. UEA supports the bill, which passed unanimously.

HB 227, Student Journalist Amendments would establish protections for student speech and press in school-sponsored media, with specified limits such as libel, slander, or obscenity, and would require a written policy. The committee raised concerns about the bill’s structure, unintended impacts and the need for additional clarification. Sara Jones, UEA government relations director, told the committee there was a lack of clarity around potential liability for school employees. The committee tabled the bill on a 9-3 vote, meaning no action was taken and it will not be debated again.

HB 299, School Response to Sexual Offense would add clarifying language to the existing law requiring local education agencies to adopt a policy addressing when crimes are considered “committed.” The bill would more precisely require a policy for circumstances in which a student has been arrested for, charged with, or adjudicated in the courts for committing a serious offense or sexual crime. The committee passed HB 299 unanimously.

HB 193 would shift benefit decisions from local employers to the state

HB 193, Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Nicholeen Peck, R, District 28, Tooele County, would prohibit state insurance plans and those offered to public employees from covering transgender medical care, including plans offered through public employers such as school districts.

A substitute version would allow individuals currently receiving transgender medical care to continue that care until treatment is completed and a physician indicates it is still needed. It would also require insurance to cover detransition-related care for individuals who choose to pursue it.

Before HB 193, school districts and other public employers could decide locally whether to offer coverage for this type of care. The bill would move that decision from local employers to the state, with implications for employee benefits, recruitment, retention and local control. The bill passed out of a House committee and is headed to the House floor next.

Public Education Appropriations Committee

State budget writers continued evaluating options to address a required 5% cut,  after federal tax cuts included in President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed by Congress in July 2025. UEA’s position is that public schools need more funding to fully support students, not less.

Two issues remain key to watch as lawmakers work through proposed reductions: a potential education salary adjustment change from 4% to 3%, and continued modeling by the Utah State Board of Education for a potential 5% across-the-board cut. The committee’s next meeting is on Thursday at 8 a.m.

Public school funding shift advances; tax-return option targets lunch debt

January 27, 2026

SB 62, School Funding Amendments
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-District 17, Salt Lake City

Sen. Fillmore’s bill proposes a significant change to a public school funding mechanism. Currently, schools are funded based on the prior-year ADM (average daily membership) plus enrollment growth. If the bill passes, ADM would no longer be used, and the Oct. 1 student count would be used instead. Sen. Fillmore believes the proposed change would more accurately fund where students are attending school, but the concern is that losing ADM would reduce stability and predictability in year-to-year funding. If the change is made, it would reallocate about $77 million, and the current bill does not include provisions for where that money would be reallocated. The bill is expected to be revised as the budget process moves forward. The bill passed 4-2.

HB 148, Tax Return Donation Amendments
Rep. Matt MacPherson, R-District 26, Salt Lake County

HB 148 creates a voluntary option for Utah taxpayers to donate a portion of their state tax return to help pay down school lunch debt in local school districts. The contribution is optional, and taxpayers may choose to donate any amount. This approach allows Utahns to directly support students and families while keeping participation voluntary.

The bill passed unanimously out of committee, where it received bipartisan praise from committee members. Legislators highlighted the bill as a practical solution that addresses a growing challenge faced by schools.

HB 148 is a positive step forward that would support school districts and help ensure students across the state have access to meals without the burden of unpaid lunch debt.

5% public education budget cuts ahead: what the appropriations subcommittee discussed Jan. 23

January 26, 2026
 

The Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee (PEA) met Friday, Jan. 23, to discuss a required 5% cut to Utah’s public education budget, directed by the Executive Appropriations Committee. The cuts are needed because of the loss of federal funding tied to President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which was signed into law in July 2025.

 The subcommittee heard three presentations (each taking a very different approach) from Legislative Fiscal Analysis (LFA), the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), and the Governor’s Office.

 LFA approach: formula adjustments instead of program cuts
The Legislative Fiscal Analysis’ proposal focused on statewide formula adjustments and reduced growth assumptions, rather than cutting specific schools or programs outright. Major components included savings from enrollment growth, reversing a planned deposit to the Public Education Stabilization Account, and reducing flexible funding to districts and charters. A significant impact of this approach is educator pay: LFA proposes a 5% educator salary increase, rather than the expected 4%, by tying the increase to current-year inflation rather than prior-year WPU growth. This change would be felt statewide.

 USBE approach: flat reductions across programs
The Utah State Board of Education largely proposed a flat 5% cut across nearly every program, including state-level programs and grants, administrative functions, and major Minimum School Program items such as educator salary adjustments, student supports, and transportation. Some committee members expressed frustration, noting that the approach lacked prioritization and failed to distinguish between high-impact programs and lower-priority items.

 Governor’s Office: priorities without specific cuts
The Governor’s Office did not present specific reductions. Instead, they offered a values-based framework to guide legislative decisions, emphasizing the importance of protecting educator compensation, literacy initiatives, and school safety.

 Why this matters

No matter which approach lawmakers choose, the challenges for public education are real. Cuts will affect educator pay, student supports, and classroom resources. Impacts will be felt statewide, especially in a system that serves the vast majority of Utah’s students.

 The UEA believes the only way to reduce harm to public education is to cut funding from the unconstitutional Utah Fits All program. Right now, it is funded at $122 million a year, while the State of Utah is appealing the ruling in a UEA lawsuit that found it unconstitutional. 

By shifting cuts there, the legislature can better protect public schools that serve more than 90% of Utah students. Contact your legislators and urge them to protect public school funding.

Senate Education Committee advances UEA-backed bill to include school nurses in salary adjustment

January 22, 2026

The Senate Education Committee held its first meeting of Utah’s 2026 legislative session on January 22, advancing several bills, including SB 75 — a Utah Education Association legislative priority — with multiple measures receiving unanimous support.

SB 75, Educator Salary Adjustment Eligibility, would add school-registered nurses to the legislative educator salary adjustment program, valued at $10,350 per year. Sen. Calvin Musselman presented the bill on behalf of UEA, joined by Marie Evans, a Weber Education Association member and school registered nurse. The committee passed the bill unanimously.
 

Other measures advanced by the committee include:

• SB 51, School Safety Modifications (Substitute 1): Requested by the legislative School Security Taskforce, the bill would create a process for local education agencies to share information about credible student threats when students transfer between LEAs. It passed unanimously.
• SB 69, School Device Revisions (Substitute 1): The bill would expand last year’s restriction on student cellphone use during instructional hours to a bell-to-bell prohibition, while keeping exemptions (including medical necessity and IEP plans) and adding allowances for LEA-determined exemptions. It would take effect July 1. The bill passed 6-1, with Sen. Riebe voting no, citing concerns it is “heavy-handed.”
• SB 119, School and Classroom Amendments: The bill would change how the public education economic stabilization account may be used, including allowing stabilization funds to cover the inflationary adjustment to the Weighted Pupil Unit under certain federal tax policy impacts. The bill passed 4-2.
• SB 52, Substitute Teaching Requirements Amendments: The bill would remove the requirement that long-term substitute teachers hold a teaching license. Davis Education Association President Kallyn Gren spoke in support, citing the challenges of securing long-term coverage in an emergency. The bill passed unanimously.
• SB 58, Public School Attendance Amendments: In response to concerns identified in a Utah State Board of Education audit, the bill would create uniform statewide definitions for attendance in traditional and virtual schools, along with uniform monitoring and accountability requirements for LEAs. It also would allow school community councils to use school trust funds to address chronic absenteeism. The bill passed 3-1.
• SB 88, School Technology Amendments: The bill would require LEAs to provide a parent-accessible monitoring system for student use of school-managed devices and adopt content filtering that limits access to preapproved websites and digital resources. The bill passed 3-1.

The Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee met Jan. 21, 2026, receiving a briefing from the Utah State Board of Education on its strategic plan and reviewing the public education base budget — the starting point for appropriations as lawmakers consider adjustments for inflation, enrollment changes and technical updates.

Base budget highlights presented to the subcommittee show public education funding projected to increase by about $191 million to keep up with inflation, a 4.2% increase reflected in per-student funding. The proposal also includes about $43 million added to the education stabilization account and about $19 million more for educator pay adjustments tied to growth in eligible educators.

A projected statewide enrollment decline of just over 2% is expected to reduce funding by about $28 million in the basic school program, with reductions in several programs to match lower enrollment. After offsets, ongoing funding is reduced by about $12.5 million, with a one-time $6.4 million backfill in the current year.

The presentation also notes continued decreases in school property tax rates, while total local revenue increases due to higher property values.