Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 157 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Jack, Colin W.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/27/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• requires the Office of Energy Development (office) to:
• develop and maintain energy education programs and curricula for grades K-12;
• develop and provide professional development training for educators;
• develop energy related workforce development programs; and
• establish the Energy Education and Workforce Development Advisory Group (advisory group);
• outlines the responsibilities and duties of the advisory group; and
• requires the office to report annually to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

4
79-6-409
0
Energy Education Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Colin W. Jack
Senate Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens
Cosponsor:
Kristen Chevrier
Trevor Lee
Carl R. Albrecht
Kay J. Christofferson
David Shallenberger
Bridger Bolinder
Doug Fiefia
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to the Office of Energy Development.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
requires the Office of Energy Development (office) to:
develop and maintain energy education programs and curricula for grades K-12;
develop and provide professional development training for educators; 
develop energy related workforce development programs; and
establish the Energy Education and Workforce Development Advisory Group 
(advisory group); 
outlines the responsibilities and duties of the advisory group; and
requires the office to report annually to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology 
Interim Committee.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
79-6-409
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
79-6-409
 is enacted to read:
79-6-409
. Energy Education and Workforce Development Advisory Group 
established -- Energy education and workforce development programs.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Advisory group" means the Energy Education and Workforce Development 
Advisory Group created in this section.
(b)
"Core standards" means the science standards established by the state board as 
described in Section 
53E-4-202
.
(c)
"Institution of higher education" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
53B-1-102
.
(2)
Pursuant to Subsection 
79-6-301(1)(h)
 and subject to legislative appropriations and 
other funding sources, the office shall establish the Energy Education and Workforce 
Development Advisory Group consisting of the following:
(a)
the director of the office, or the director's designee;
(b)
the director of the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, or the director's designee;
(c)
the state superintendent of public instruction, or the superintendent's designee from 
the State Board of Education elementary science team;
(d)
the state superintendent of public instruction, or the superintendent's designee from 
the State Board of Education secondary science team;
(e)
the commissioner of higher education, or the commissioner's designee from Talent 
Ready Utah;
(f)
the president of the Utah Rural Schools Association, or the president's designee;
(g)
the president of the Utah Science Teaching Association, or the president's designee;
(h)
the chief executive officer of the Utah Municipal Power Agency or the Utah 
Associated Municipal Power Systems, or the chief executive officer's designee;
(i)
the executive director of the Utah Rural Electric Cooperative Association, or the 
executive director's designee;
(j)
the president of the Utah Petroleum Association, or the president's designee; and
(k)
the president of the Utah Mining Association, or the president's designee.
(3)
In consultation with the advisory group, the office shall:
(a)
develop and maintain energy education programs and curricula for kindergarten 
through grade 12 that:
(i)
meet core standards;
(ii)
align with the state energy policy described in Section 
79-6-301
;
(iii)
are appropriate for each grade level; and
(iv)
are available to school districts, charter schools, and the public for voluntary use;
(b)
develop and provide professional development training for educators that:
(i)
promotes the use and appropriate deployment and teaching of the energy 
education programs and curricula developed under Subsection (3)(a);
(ii)
builds fluency for educators with the energy education programs and curricula;
(iii)
provides educators with opportunities and activities to receive renewal hours for 
professional licensure; and
(iv)
complies with state educator licensure requirements; and
(c)
develop energy-related workforce development programs and facilitate collaboration 
among institutions of higher education, elementary and secondary schools, and 
industry.
(4)
The office may:
(a)
include in the curricula other elements of the state energy policy to advance a 
comprehensive understanding of energy policy;
(b)
contract with third-party curriculum development organizations to create the 
curricula based on guidance from the office and the advisory committee; and
(c)
provide comment on the development of Utah science core standards.
(5)
The professional development training provided to educators by the office may include:
(a)
virtual or in-person classroom instruction;
(b)
conferences;
(c)
seminars; and
(d)
site visits.
(6)
An energy-related workforce development program described in Subsection (3)(c) shall:
(a)
create expanded, multidisciplinary programs or stackable credential programs;
(b)
prepare students for energy industry jobs; and
(c)
promote policies consistent with the state energy policy described in Section 
79-6-301
.
(7)
The advisory group's duties may include providing recommendations to the office 
regarding the development and implementation of:
(a)
energy education programs and curricula in grades kindergarten through grade 12;
(b)
professional development trainings for educators;
(c)
energy related workforce development programs; and
(d)
any potential comments to be submitted on the development of science core 
standards for Utah public schools for the state.
(8)
On or before October 1 of each year, the office shall submit a written report to the 
Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee describing activities, 
successes, challenges, and funding needs related to the programs and training 
established in this section.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-11-25 3:06 PM