All Roll Calls
Yes: 236 • No: 1
UtahS.B. 342026 General SessionSenateWALLET
Public Education Revisions
Sponsored By: John D. Johnson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
EducationK-12 EducationJuvenile JusticeState Board of EducationLocal Education Agencies (LEAs)Education Grant ProgramsUtah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Longer paid training for school aides
Beginning May 6, 2026, eligible paraprofessionals can get Grow Your Own scholarship support for up to four semesters of clinical training. This replaces the one-semester limit for student teaching. The scholarship covers pay equal to 35% of a full-time position. The local education agency must pay another 15% of a full-time position and all employee benefits. Scholarship funding depends on legislative appropriations; the law sets no dollar amount.
Grants support career centers for students
Beginning May 6, 2026, the renamed APEX program supports career education centers through grants, subject to legislative appropriations. Districts, charter schools, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, and education-agency groups can apply. Applicants must show workforce alignment or a plan to improve it, and propose measures of student skills. Recipients must follow their applications, report yearly on spending and results, and return unused money. Beginning July 1, 2026, the required one-time funding list includes $100 million for APEX, not direct household payments. Funding depends on available appropriations to the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account and a statutory formula tied to 10% of total one-time appropriations for listed costs.
Student return plans with felony limits
Beginning May 6, 2026, schools and local education agencies must make return-to-school plans after court or police notice of serious offenses. This covers students arrested, charged, or adjudicated for a serious offense. Plans are due within five school days after notice, with the student, parent or guardian, and a multidisciplinary team involved. For a committed or alleged forcible felony, the local education agency can refuse reintegration but must provide alternative education options.
School suicide prevention and funding support
Beginning May 6, 2026, districts and charter schools must provide age-specific suicide prevention programs with a state education coordinator. Elementary lessons teach life skills and stronger relationships; secondary programs also cover prevention, intervention, and support after a suicide. Grade 6 follows the secondary rules when included in a middle or junior high school; otherwise, it follows elementary rules. Schools must coordinate with bullying and substance-abuse prevention as appropriate and promptly communicate with a student's parent or guardian. The state education board and health officials provide model-program training and resources. Subject to legislative appropriations and the exception in Section 53F-2-525, the board may distribute at least $1,000 per school, or proportionately less when funding is insufficient. Schools choose qualifying suicide-prevention practices or programs, and local education agencies cannot charge indirect costs to this funding.
State board directs and monitors schools
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah law defines the State Board of Education's role as directing and managing public education. The board must act within laws passed by the Legislature. Its role includes monitoring local education agencies for legal compliance. This clarification creates no direct household payment.
State leads deaf and blind school safety
Beginning May 6, 2026, the state security chief handles specified safety assessment and coordination duties for Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. These duties otherwise belong to the county security chief. The state chief also serves as the security-chief contact for the school safety and security director. The change adds no direct household payment or duty.
Career center funding minimum is removed
Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah removes the stated minimum allocation of $65 million for the Catalyst Center Grant Program. This removes that funding floor, but does not establish an actual funding cut or the program's final allocation.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
John D. Johnson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
R. Neil Walter
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/6/2026
House Conference Committee - Final Passage
Yes: 52 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ refused to recede from House amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2026
House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate Conference Committee - Final Passage
Yes: 29 • No: 0
House vote • 3/5/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 71 • No: 0
House vote • 2/27/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 2/27/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 2/27/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/6/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/6/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/26/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/26/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/19/2026Senate/ to Governor
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/11/2026SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/11/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/10/2026Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
3/10/2026Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate Conference Committee - Final Passage
3/6/2026Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
3/6/2026Senate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse Conference Committee - Final Passage
3/6/2026House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
3/6/2026Conference Committee Report
3/6/2026Bill Substituted by Conference Committee
3/6/2026House/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse Conference Committee Appointed
3/6/2026House/ refused to recede from House amendment
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/11/2026
Substitute #4
3/6/2026
Amended 3/2/2026 10:03:241
3/2/2026
Substitute #3
2/24/2026
Substitute #2
2/5/2026
Substitute #1
1/26/2026
Introduced
12/19/2025