All Roll Calls
Yes: 200 • No: 0
UtahH.B. 3412025 General SessionHouseWALLET
Higher Education Revisions
Sponsored By: Val L. Peterson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
EducationHigher EducationColleges and UniversitiesUtah System of Higher Education
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
First responders gain therapist training options
Beginning May 7, 2025, eligible first responders can use mental-health therapist training grants at private colleges or Utah state-system schools. Eligible applicants include first responder volunteers and retirees who worked as first responders in Utah. The grant supports a degree or certification to become a mental health therapist. It covers tuition and fees left after other listed aid, up to $6,000 yearly for no more than four academic years. Awards depend on legislative appropriations and available money.
Future officers gain scholarship school options
Beginning May 7, 2025, the Karen Mayne Public Safety Officer Scholarship includes qualifying programs at private colleges. This need-based aid covers tuition, fees, and required textbooks for officer certification and up to four academic years. Applicants must submit a high school diploma and enter a state-certified academy's basic training when eligible. Recipients still commit to at least five years as a peace officer after certification; unmet service or education requirements can trigger repayment, with narrow hardship exceptions. Awards depend on legislative funding.
Future teachers gain private college options
Beginning May 7, 2025, the Terrel H. Bell Education Scholarship includes Utah private colleges offering approved programs. Recipients must take at least six credits, plan to finish the program and work in a Utah public school, and complete the federal student aid application or an allowed opt-out. Private-college awards remain capped at the average scholarship awarded by public colleges. The law also recognizes Utah private colleges with state-approved teacher education programs for older Bell Teaching Incentive Loans. Those loan rules apply only to awards made before July 1, 2019; the board cannot make new awards.
Low-income children gain education savings options
Beginning May 7, 2025, Student Prosperity Savings funds can cover costs at Utah state-system schools, private colleges, or technical colleges. Beneficiaries must be Utah residents under 20 and receive community-partner services, directly or through a qualifying family connection. Financial eligibility includes intergenerational poverty, income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, or receipt of low-income services. Community partners identify beneficiaries and hold their program-supported 529 education savings accounts. Beneficiaries must enroll within three years after high school graduation, or remaining account money returns to the program.
More nonprofit colleges qualify for aid
Beginning May 7, 2025, more Utah private nonprofit colleges qualify for Opportunity Scholarships and Utah Promise. Opportunity drops its Northwest Commission accreditation requirement; Utah Promise drops its express recognized-accreditation requirement. Opportunity applicants must apply to the board, enroll at an eligible school, and meet board eligibility standards. Utah Promise still requires financial need, at least half-time enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, and Utah residency or a nonresident-tuition exemption. Graduate students remain excluded from Utah Promise, and existing award limits remain unchanged in both programs.
Private college students qualify for loans
Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah's higher education board can lend to eligible borrowers attending or planning to attend private colleges. Its authority also covers borrowers at tax-supported public schools and purchases of eligible borrowers' loan obligations. The board sets amounts using substantially similar standards for both school types. The law does not set loan amounts, interest rates, or repayment terms.
Adult learners gain private college options
Beginning May 7, 2025, more Utah private colleges qualify for the Adult Learners Grant Program. Its school definition drops the former express nonprofit and recognized-accreditation requirements. Students must still be Utah residents, at least 26, financially needy, and enrolled in an online course. The course must serve a degree in a field with demonstrated industry need or an industry-needs certificate or credential program. Grant amounts do not change.
College borrowers get yearly loan notices
Beginning May 7, 2025, covered Utah private colleges participating in federal student aid must send annual loan notices by July 1. The duty applies when the school receives information about a student's loan or a loan taken for that student. Notices must identify the loan and direct borrowers to the National Student Loan Data System and online repayment calculators. Schools are protected from liability for information provided under this duty. The notices do not change loan balances or repayment terms.
Medical students gain broader Utah connections
Beginning May 7, 2025, graduation from a Utah private postsecondary school counts toward the University of Utah medical school's Utah-related admissions requirement. At least 82% of annual admitted students must meet one of the listed Utah-related qualifications. The broader school definition does not guarantee admission. The medical school also has authority to arrange teaching for out-of-state medical students through agreements with outside states or colleges. Those agreements are optional and do not guarantee instruction or payment.
Veterans gain more tuition aid options
Beginning May 7, 2025, more private schools qualify for the Veterans Tuition Gap Program. The school definition drops express requirements for nonprofit status, a Utah location, and recognized accreditation. Veterans must still be Utah resident students accepted and enrolled in a bachelor's program, without an existing bachelor's degree. They must have exhausted or no longer qualify for federal veterans' education benefits. Family members do not qualify in place of the veteran, and the change does not guarantee an award.
More course providers qualify for transfers
Beginning May 7, 2025, qualifying private course providers can seek agreements under Utah's college transfer system. They must offer general education courses based on demonstrated skills or knowledge, online or in person, and award academic credit. They cannot award degrees, including associate or bachelor's degrees. This eligibility change does not guarantee a transfer agreement or change student tuition or fees.
Private colleges join state internship program
Beginning May 7, 2025, private colleges offering qualifying internships are included in Utah's work experience and career exploration program. The internship definition covers classroom learning combined with supervised unpaid work experience. This expands covered schools without changing student eligibility, internship pay, or program funding. It does not guarantee that a school offers an internship.
Private campuses gain broader removal powers
Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah's campus-removal law covers private postsecondary schools without the former recognized-accreditation requirement. School leaders can order people off campus for harmful, criminal, disruptive, or interfering conduct, or reasonably believed intent to act that way. Removal also covers violations of valid school rules and reckless conduct that may make others fear for their safety. These powers support campus safety but expand the circumstances in which people can be removed from private campuses. Schools can request local or state police help at no institutional expense, with assisting personnel under institutional direction.
Private colleges face fewer default rules
Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah's main higher education law generally excludes private colleges unless a rule expressly includes them. This covers higher education providers that receive no direct state appropriations, including nonprofit and for-profit schools. Private colleges face fewer default requirements, while students cannot assume those requirements cover their school.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Val L. Peterson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Michael K. McKell
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/5/2025
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 74 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2025
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 2/14/2025
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/14/2025
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/14/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 70 • No: 0
House vote • 2/5/2025
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 2/5/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/26/2025House/ to Governor
3/12/2025HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/12/2025HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/7/2025HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/7/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/6/2025Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/6/2025House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/6/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2025SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/6/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/6/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/5/2025HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ uncircled
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ circled
3/3/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/3/2025SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/21/2025SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ amended
2/21/2025SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/20/2025SenateSenate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
2/20/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/7/2025
Amended 2/21/2025 12:02:905
2/21/2025
Amended 2/14/2025 11:02:183
2/14/2025
Substitute #2
2/13/2025
Substitute #1
2/3/2025
Introduced
1/28/2025