# Utah S.B. 188: School District Modifications Utah S.B. 188, School District Modifications, is a 2025 General Session Senate bill sponsored by Keith Grover (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-03-17 (Senate/ to Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB188-2025GS - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah S.B. 188 - State: Utah - Session: 2025 General Session - Title: School District Modifications - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-28 - Last action: 2025-03-17, Senate/ to Governor - Sponsor: Keith Grover (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Education, K-12 Education, Interlocal Cooperation, Legislative Operations, Legislative Organization, Municipalities, Political Subdivisions (Local Issues), Government Operations (State Issues), Interlocal Agreements, Legislative Staff Offices, School Districts - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 23 (270 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 17 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Job and pay protections for schoolworkers: benefit, medium. Successor districts must give eligible contracted school employees written job offers at least six months before the allocation date. Offers follow student population shares, and transfers take effect on the allocation date; duties and titles may change. First-year pay cannot fall below what employ… - Shared schools for students with disabilities: benefit, medium. New and reorganized districts must make a shared-services agreement unless both school boards agree to skip it. Agreements allow access to schools serving students with disabilities inside or outside the student's district. Access can last up to five years after the new district begins educational… - Schools keep operating during district splits: benefit, low. Counties hold successor-board elections the next year on the applicable regular or municipal schedule; initial terms are roughly half three years and half five years, chosen by lot. Until the allocation date—normally July 1 of the second calendar year after board elections, unless mutually changed—… - Students keep former secondary school access: benefit, low. For six school years after district creation, eligible students can choose their former secondary school outside the successor district. Students must have lived in the new or reorganized district at creation and within that school's boundaries the day before. They must also have qualified to atten… - Public review of district financial plans: benefit, low. An interlocal proposal's contact sponsor must request a feasibility study within 30 days after request certification. The Legislative Auditor General conducts requested studies, subject to audit-subcommittee priorities, including financial viability and taxpayer burdens. After receiving the study,… - Successor districts retain free records access: benefit, low. On July 1 of the second year after successor-board elections, the district receiving the main office becomes the records keeper. The boards can agree on a different records keeper. Each successor district gets free access through an interlocal agreement for one year after the allocation date. The L… - Property owners still cover district debt: cost, medium. For new districts created on or after May 10, 2011, successor districts must levy enough tax for qualifying annual bond payments. Covered debt includes specified general obligation and lease revenue bonds issued before creation or under mutual board agreements, with statutory exceptions. The State… - Limits on schoolworker raises and payouts: cost, medium. Starting on the creation date, the divided district cannot grant new severance, bonuses, retirement packages, or buyouts. Earlier written agreements or policies remain allowed, as do yearly cost-of-living raises and previously established pay increases. Successor boards may jointly approve exceptio… - Public records can require upfront payment: cost, low. Utah government offices can require payment before processing a public-record request when expected fees exceed $50. They can also require payment when a requester has unpaid fees from an earlier invoiced request. Required payment can include past fees and estimated new fees. This rule sets payment… - Districts must document property and debts: cost, low. The divided board must prepare an initial asset-and-debt inventory within 60 days after creation. Detailed recorded inventories, including related property and estimated settlement costs, are due December 1 of the following year. Regular updates go to successor boards and the Legislative Auditor Ge… - Property taxes wait for district instruction: mixed, medium. New and reorganized districts cannot impose property taxes before the fiscal year they take responsibility for teaching students. If their territory already has the covered levy when instruction begins, boards can end it or impose it under state law. They can also continue it under a capped option.… - Cities gain district options with limits: mixed, low. A city cannot join multiple interlocal district proposals or also use the separate municipal route for the same election. Withdrawal requires separate votes by its council and most participating cities before August 1 of the filing year; majority withdrawal voids the request until next year. Cities… - School boards control newly formed districts: mixed, low. An area left after an approved split is treated as a reorganized new district when excluded from the approved proposal. This also covers an area in a rejected proposal within an existing district that contains approved new-district territory. Once elected, successor school boards control their dist… - Voters decide district splits within limits: mixed, low. Proposed district boundaries must connect, avoid isolated areas, and include whole participating towns or cities except portions outside the divided district. Creation efforts can start no more than once in two years, and within divided districts only in the allocation-date year. For citizen petiti… - District property transfers need local approval: mixed, low. At allocation, physical assets and related liabilities follow their location; discretionary assets and debts follow student population shares. School buses follow transportation needs and fleet parity; other vehicles follow student shares with parity, unless boards agree otherwise. Each successor k… - New district borrowing brings repayment duties: mixed, low. After creation, divided districts can issue lease revenue bonds for successors, sharing proceeds by property-tax value; seated successor boards must consent in writing. General obligation bonds under interlocal agreements require majority approval among divided-district voters voting on the bond an… - Startup money and costs for districts: mixed, low. On January 1 in each of the first two years after board elections, the divided district must distribute transition money. Total funding is the greater of 1% of its total weighted-pupil-unit funding or $60 per student, divided using the latest October student count. Successor districts must repay co… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Keith Grover (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Stephanie Gricius (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-07 | Senate | Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-07 | House | House Conference Committee - Final Passage | pass | 68 | 0 | | | 2025-03-07 | Senate | Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-07 | Senate | Senate Conference Committee - Final Passage | pass | 24 | 0 | | | 2025-03-07 | House | House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-07 | House | House/ refused to recede from House amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-03-06 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 70 | 0 | | | 2025-02-27 | House | House Comm - Amendment Recommendation | pass | 12 | 0 | | | 2025-02-27 | House | House Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 12 | 0 | | | 2025-02-27 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 12 | 0 | | | 2025-02-27 | House | House Comm - Amendment Recommendation | pass | 12 | 0 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Senate/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 25 | 0 | | | 2025-02-12 | Senate | Senate/ floor amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-11 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd reading | pass | 25 | 0 | | | 2025-02-11 | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | Senate | Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 5 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate/ floor amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | Senate | Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | House | House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt | fail | 0 | 0 | | | | House | House/ refused to recede from House amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | ## Actions (59) - 2025-03-17: Senate/ to Governor (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Governor Signed - 2025-03-13: Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing (Senate) - 2025-03-13: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2025-03-07: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2025-03-07: Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling - 2025-03-07: Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate Conference Committee - Final Passage (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: House Conference Committee - Final Passage (House) - 2025-03-07: House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt (House) - 2025-03-07: Conference Committee Report - 2025-03-07: Bill Substituted by Conference Committee - 2025-03-07: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-03-07: House Conference Committee Appointed (House) - 2025-03-07: House/ refused to recede from House amendment (House) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2025-03-06: House/ to Senate (House) - 2025-03-06: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2025-03-06: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2025-02-27: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2025-02-27: House/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended (House) - 2025-02-27: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-27: House Comm - Amendment Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-27: House Comm - Amendment Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-27: House Comm - Substitute Recommendation (House) - 2025-02-24: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2025-02-13: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2025-02-12: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2025-02-12: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Senate/ passed 3rd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Senate/ floor amendment (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Senate/ 3rd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Senate/ passed 2nd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Senate/ substituted (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Senate/ 2nd reading (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation (Senate) - 2025-01-31: Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst (Senate) - 2025-01-30: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2025-01-29: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2025-01-29: Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research (Senate) - 2025-01-28: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-03-13: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/SB0188.pdf) - Substitute #5, 2025-03-07: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S05.pdf) - Amended 2/27/2025 11:02:228, 2025-02-27: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_SB0188S04_2025-02-27_11-41-37.pdf) - Substitute #4, 2025-02-26: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S04.pdf) - Substitute #3, 2025-02-21: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S03.pdf) - Amended 2/12/2025 12:02:712, 2025-02-12: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_SB0188S02_2025-02-12_12-36-02.pdf) - Substitute #2, 2025-02-11: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S02.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2025-02-04: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S01.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-01-28: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188.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/SB0188.pdf) - [Substitute #5 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S05.pdf) - [Amended 2/27/2025 11:02:228 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_SB0188S04_2025-02-27_11-41-37.pdf) - [Substitute #4 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S04.pdf) - [Substitute #3 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S03.pdf) - [Amended 2/12/2025 12:02:712 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/amended/AV_SB0188S02_2025-02-12_12-36-02.pdf) - [Substitute #2 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S02.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188S01.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/introduced/SB0188.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-SB188-2025GS (as of 2026-10-17).