# Utah H.B. 455: Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments Utah H.B. 455, Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments, is a 2025 General Session House bill sponsored by Candice B. Pierucci (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-03-06 (Governor Signed); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB455-2025GS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah H.B. 455 - State: Utah - Session: 2025 General Session - Title: Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-07 - Last action: 2025-03-06, Governor Signed - Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Education, K-12 Education, State Board of Education - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 17 (232 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 22 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Scholarship amounts and carryovers for families: benefit, high. Annual awards reach $8,000 for private school students, subject to legislative funding and program requirements. Home-based students can receive $4,000 at ages 5–11 or $6,000 at ages 12–18, measured on September 1. For every $3 left unused, $2 carries into the next scholarship year, up to a cumulat… - Contractor oversight protects family scholarship accounts: benefit, medium. The state board must seek contractor proposals showing capacity, relevant education or finance experience, and an operating plan. Applicants must show no international-organization affiliation, data harvesting for redistribution, or direction of curriculum standards. After written violation notice,… - Returning and lower-income students get priority: benefit, medium. First priority goes to eligible students who used an account last year and submitted the required learning record or assessment. Second priority goes to eligible nonreturning students with family income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Third priority goes to eligible siblings of stude… - Families keep education choices and provider flexibility: benefit, low. Scholarship students can change approved providers at any time. For midyear changes, the manager can divide funds based on enrollment or time receiving goods or services. State contracts must separate program administration from teaching services and preserve independent choices by parents and prov… - Payment rules protect families’ scholarship funds: benefit, low. A dedicated state account holds appropriations, interest, and returned scholarship funds; payments depend on legislative funding. Scholarship funds normally go out in two equal payments, at the start and during the second half of the year. The manager can approve full payment upfront for private sc… - Scholarship families get help and appeals: benefit, low. Before accepting applications, the manager must post an online handbook and update it as information changes. It must explain rules, approved expenses and providers, parent duties, contractor duties, and appeals. The manager must provide customer help, set response-time expectations, require adequa… - Scholarship families keep access during contractor changes: benefit, low. When a contractor change is required, the Department of Operations temporarily coordinates the program until a new manager takes over. It must preserve accounts, provider approvals, payments, parent access, records, and reporting without changing policies or operations or directly handling scholars… - Scholarship students get equal school access: benefit, low. Local public school agencies must treat scholarship students like enrolled students for auditions, sports, and other covered activities, without requiring enrollment. They cannot deny participation solely because of scholarship status or related liability concerns. Agencies must provide the same li… - Scholarship funds get audits and staff screening: benefit, low. The law removes earlier audit, financial-reporting, and state board report-review provisions while establishing revised oversight duties. The manager must arrange annual and random account audits by an independent certified public accountant using accepted auditing standards. The financial administ… - Scholarship managers and payment staff separate duties: benefit, low. Contracted program managers handle applications, eligibility, account records, provider coordination, and participant help under their contracts and program rules. A financial administrator uses secure systems to process payments under the manager’s direction. It pays only approved providers for ap… - Scholarship families face public school limits: cost, high. Before receiving a scholarship, students cannot be enrolled in a public school district or charter school. Covered statewide online courses are also barred, except for course participation allowed by Section 53F-6-409(7). Home-based students previously enrolled in public school must attest that the… - Families face scholarship residency and relationship rules: mixed, high. Students must prove their primary Utah residence when applying, reapplying, or renewing. Proof can include a parent's current-year utility bill, mortgage statement, lease, or property tax record. A foster parent who has started adopting the child counts as a parent for program purposes. The law res… - Public school return ends scholarship funding: mixed, high. Parents must notify the manager within five business days of returning to a nonqualifying public school or choosing a provider's public-school courses. Before finding public-school reentry, the manager must give written notice and five business days to confirm or dispute enrollment. After reentry i… - Families face detailed scholarship income checks: mixed, medium. Household income means parents' combined gross income when living together, or the claiming parent's gross income in single-parent or joint-custody cases. For income-based priority, a parent must consent to sharing state tax-return information. The Tax Commission must send it within 10 business day… - Families face reimbursement and payment safeguards: mixed, medium. Nonapproved-provider reimbursements require a receipt showing cost, item or service, and provider; the expense must otherwise qualify for scholarship coverage. The expense must serve the student's education and occur while the student is not enrolled in public school. A home-based student's parent… - Families get correction time before disqualification: mixed, medium. The manager must use a fair suspension process for intentional or substantial fund misuse or program violations by students or parents. Written notice to the family and financial administrator must explain that transactions, disbursements, and reimbursements are blocked. Families have 10 business d… - Families get fee-free online scholarship payments: mixed, medium. Parents get an online payment portal, with funds available within five business days after the financial administrator receives them. Scholarship distributions come in equal parts by July 31 and December 31, unless another payment schedule is authorized. Families cannot withdraw funds; payments go… - Families get firm scholarship application deadlines: mixed, medium. Applications open March 1 for existing scholarship students and April 1 for new students each year. Applications close May 1, and the manager must give decisions within 30 days after that deadline. The manager must set and communicate an offer acceptance deadline before July 1. Students who do not… - Families get spending options with limits: mixed, medium. Scholarships cover arts and music coursework or supplements aligned with state core standards, plus instrument rentals—not purchases. Technology devices are covered only once every three years per student. Extracurricular spending is capped at 20% of the award, with another 20% allowed for physical… - Families must document learning for renewal: mixed, medium. For next year's award, a student or parent must submit a learning portfolio or the specified assessment results. The manager must receive it by May 31 or under an approved assessment schedule. Portfolio sharing is limited to the parent unless written consent allows sample use with identifying detai… - Scholarship providers face reporting and refund rules: mixed, low. Private schools with fewer than 150 students and public school providers must submit information to both program contractors. Private programs and services must complete orientation before receiving funds and keep that training current. Covered schools, programs, and services cannot give families d… - Scholarship administration loses separate dollar cap: mixed, low. The program manager can use up to 5% of legislative program appropriations for administration. The law removes the separate $2.5 million cap. This permits more administrative spending when 5% exceeds that former cap, but the 5% ceiling still applies. Using that added room supports operations but le… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kirk A. Cullimore (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-03 | House | House/ concurs with Senate amendment | pass | 66 | 0 | | | 2025-02-28 | Senate | Senate/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 25 | 1 | | | 2025-02-27 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd reading | pass | 26 | 1 | | | 2025-02-26 | Senate | Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation | pass | 4 | 0 | | | 2025-02-26 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 6 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 69 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-24 | House | House/ floor amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-21 | House | House/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | House Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 11 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | House Comm - Amendment Recommendation | pass | 12 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 13 | 0 | | | | House | House/ floor amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | House | House/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | House | House/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | House | House/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (45) - 2025-03-06: Governor Signed - 2025-03-05: House/ to Governor (House) - 2025-03-05: House/ received enrolled bill from Printing (House) - 2025-03-05: House/ enrolled bill to Printing (House) - 2025-03-05: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2025-03-04: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2025-03-04: Bill Received from House for Enrolling - 2025-03-04: House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling (House) - 2025-03-04: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-03-03: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2025-03-03: Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House (Senate) - 2025-03-03: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-03-03: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-03-03: House/ concurs with Senate amendment (House) - 2025-02-28: House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (House) - 2025-02-28: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-02-28: Senate/ to House with amendments (Senate) - 2025-02-28: Senate/ passed 3rd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-28: Senate/ 3rd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Senate/ passed 2nd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Senate/ 2nd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2025-02-27: Senate/ comm rpt/ amended (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-02-26: Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2025-02-24: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-02-24: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ floor amendment (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ substituted (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ uncircled (House) - 2025-02-21: House/ circled (House) - 2025-02-21: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2025-02-14: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2025-02-14: House/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended (House) - 2025-02-13: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-13: House Comm - Amendment Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-13: House Comm - Substitute Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-12: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2025-02-12: House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst (House) - 2025-02-10: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2025-02-10: House/ received bill from Legislative Research (House) - 2025-02-07: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-03-05: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/HB0455.pdf) - Amended 2/27/2025 08:02:225, 2025-02-27: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_HB0455S02_2025-02-27_08-58-37.pdf) - Amended 2/24/2025 11:02:473, 2025-02-24: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_HB0455S02_2025-02-24_11-31-54.pdf) - Substitute #2, 2025-02-24: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0455S02.pdf) - Amended 2/14/2025 10:02:168, 2025-02-14: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_HB0455S01_2025-02-14_10-19-02.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2025-02-13: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0455S01.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-02-07: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0455.pdf) ## Related bills - S.B. 199: Guardianship Amendments (signed) - H.B. 562: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Amendments (signed) - H.B. 493: Medical Examiner Amendments (signed) - H.B. 482: Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements (signed) - S.B. 197: Property Tax Amendments (vetoed) - S.B. 3: Appropriations Adjustments (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/HB0455.pdf) - [Amended 2/27/2025 08:02:225 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_HB0455S02_2025-02-27_08-58-37.pdf) - [Amended 2/24/2025 11:02:473 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_HB0455S02_2025-02-24_11-31-54.pdf) - [Substitute #2 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0455S02.pdf) - [Amended 2/14/2025 10:02:168 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_HB0455S01_2025-02-14_10-19-02.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0455S01.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/HB0455.pdf) ## Related - [S.B. 199: Guardianship Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB199-2025GS) - [H.B. 562: Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB562-2025GS) - [H.B. 493: Medical Examiner Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB493-2025GS) - [H.B. 482: Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB482-2025GS) - [S.B. 197: Property Tax Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB197-2025GS) - [S.B. 3: Appropriations Adjustments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB3-2025GS) - [Utah bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah/bills) - [Utah state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB455-2025GS (as of 2026-10-17).