Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 462 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Auxier, Tiara

Final action

Governor Signed 3/26/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• creates the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program to fund the construction or refurbishment of sports facilities in rural public schools;
• requires the Utah State Board of Education to administer the program;
• allows a local education agency to apply for funds from the program;
• requires the state board to report on the program upon request; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

18
53E-1-201
53F-9-204
53F-10-303
0
Rural School Funding Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Tiara Auxier
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
creates the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program to fund the construction or 
refurbishment of sports facilities in rural public schools;
requires the Utah State Board of Education to administer the program;
allows a local education agency to apply for funds from the program;
requires the state board to report on the program upon request; and
makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates 
$4,390,000
 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2026, all 
of which is from the various sources as detailed in this bill.
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-1-201
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapters 3, 460 and 525
53F-9-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 322
ENACTS:
53F-10-303
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53E-1-201
 is amended to read:
53E-1-201
. Reports to and action required of the Education Interim Committee.
(1)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section 
68-3-14
, the following recurring 
reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a)
the report described in Section 
9-22-109
 by the STEM Action Center Board, 
including the information described in Section 
9-22-113
 on the status of the computer 
science initiative and Section 
9-22-114
 on the Computing Partnerships Grants 
Program;
(b)
the prioritized list of data research described in Section 
53B-33-302
 and the report on 
research and activities described in Section 
53B-33-304
 by the Utah Data Research 
Center;
(c)
the report described in Section 
53B-1-402
 by the Utah Board of Higher Education on 
career and technical education issues and addressing workforce needs;
(d)
the annual report of the Utah Board of Higher Education described in Section 
53B-1-402
;
(e)
the reports described in Section 
53B-28-401
 by the Utah Board of Higher Education 
regarding activities related to campus safety;
(f)
the State Superintendent's Annual Report by the state board described in Section 
53E-1-203
;
(g)
the annual report described in Section 
53E-2-202
 by the state board on the strategic 
plan to improve student outcomes;
(h)
the report described in Section 
53E-8-204
 by the state board on the Utah Schools for 
the Deaf and the Blind;
(i)
the report described in Section 
53E-10-703
 by the Utah Leading through Effective, 
Actionable, and Dynamic Education director on research and other activities;
(j)
the report described in Section 
53F-2-522
 regarding mental health screening 
programs;
(k)
the report described in Section 
53F-4-203
 by the state board and the independent 
evaluator on an evaluation of early interactive reading software;
(l)
the report described in Section 
63N-20-107
 by the Governor's Office of Economic 
Opportunity on UPSTART;
(m)
the reports described in Sections 
53F-5-214
 and 
53F-5-215
 by the state board 
related to grants for professional learning and grants for an elementary teacher 
preparation assessment;
(n)
upon request, the report described in Section 
53F-5-219
 by the state board on the 
Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program;
(o)
the report described in Section 
53F-5-405
 by the state board regarding an evaluation 
of a partnership that receives a grant to improve educational outcomes for students 
who are low income;
(p)
the report described in Section 
53B-35-202
 regarding the Higher Education and 
Corrections Council;
(q)
the report described in Section 
53G-7-221
 by the state board regarding innovation 
plans;
(r)
the reports described in Section 
53F-6-412
 regarding the Utah Fits All Scholarship 
Program.
(2)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section 
68-3-14
, the following occasional 
reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a)
in 2027, 2030, 2033, and 2035, the reports described in Sections 
53B-1-116
, 
53B-1-117
, and 
53B-1-118
;
(b)
if required, the report described in Section 
53E-4-309
 by the state board explaining 
the reasons for changing the grade level specification for the administration of 
specific assessments;
(c)
if required, the report described in Section 
53E-5-210
 by the state board of an 
adjustment to the minimum level that demonstrates proficiency for each statewide 
assessment;
(d)
the report described in Section 
53E-10-702
 by Utah Leading through Effective, 
Actionable, and Dynamic Education;
(e)
if required, the report described in Section 
53F-2-513
 by the state board evaluating 
the effects of salary bonuses on the recruitment and retention of effective teachers in 
high poverty schools;
(f)
upon request, the report described in Section 
53F-10-303
 by the state board regarding 
the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program;
(f)
(g)
upon request, a report described in Section 
53G-7-222
 by an LEA regarding 
expenditure of a percentage of state restricted funds to support an innovative 
education program;
(g)
(h)
the reports described in Section 
53G-11-304
 by the state board regarding 
proposed rules and results related to educator exit surveys; and
(h)
(i)
the report described in Section 
26B-5-113
 by the Office of Substance Use and 
Mental Health, the state board, and the Department of Health and Human Services 
regarding recommendations related to Medicaid reimbursement for school-based 
health services.
Section 2, Section 
53F-9-204
 is amended to read:
53F-9-204
. Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account.
(1)
There is created within the Uniform School Fund a restricted account known as the 
"Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account."
(2)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the account shall be funded from the 
following revenue sources:
(i)
15% of the difference between, as determined by the Office of the Legislative 
Fiscal Analyst:
(A)
the estimated amount of ongoing Income Tax Fund and Uniform School Fund 
revenue available for the Legislature to appropriate for the next fiscal year; and
(B)
the amount of ongoing appropriations from the Income Tax Fund and Uniform 
School Fund in the current fiscal year; and
(ii)
other appropriations as the Legislature may designate.
(b)
If the appropriation described in Subsection (2)(a) would cause the ongoing 
appropriations to the account to exceed 11% of Uniform School Fund appropriations 
described in Section 
53F-9-201.1
 for the same fiscal year, the Legislature shall 
appropriate only those funds necessary to ensure that the ongoing appropriations to 
the account equal 11% of Uniform School Fund appropriations for that fiscal year.
(3)
Subject to the availability of ongoing appropriations to the account, in accordance with 
Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 5, Subsection (4), the ongoing appropriation to the 
account shall be used to fund:
(a)
except for a year described in Subsection (3)(b), one-time appropriations to the 
public education system; and
(b)
the Minimum School Program for a year in which Income Tax Fund revenue and 
Uniform School Fund revenue are insufficient to fund:
(i)
ongoing appropriations to the public education system; and
(ii)
enrollment growth and inflation estimates, as defined in Section 
53F-9-201.1
.
(4)
(a)
The account shall earn interest.
(b)
All interest earned on account money shall be deposited in the account.
(5)
On or before December 31, 2023, and every three years thereafter, the Office of the 
Legislative Fiscal Analyst shall:
(a)
review the percentages described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (2)(b); and
(b)
recommend to the Executive Appropriations Subcommittee any changes based on 
the review described in Subsection (5)(a).
(6)
In preparing budget bills for a given fiscal year, the Executive Appropriations 
Committee shall make the one-time appropriations described in Subsection (3)(a) by 
appropriating at least the lesser of 10% of the total amount of the one-time 
appropriations; or 
(a)
the cost of providing 32 paid professional hours for teachers in accordance with 
Section 
53F-7-203
;
 and
(b)
the amount to make the distribution required under Section 
53F-2-527
.
; and
(c)
the cost of the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program described in Section 
53F-10-303
.
Section 3, Section 
53F-10-303
 is enacted to read:
53F-10-303
. Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Eligible school" means a public school within a school district:
(i)
located in a county of the fourth, fifth, or sixth class, as defined in Section 
17-50-501
; or
(ii)
with fewer than 3,000 students enrolled in the school district.
(b)
"Program" means the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program created in 
Subsection 
(2)
.
(c)
"Sports facility" means an indoor or outdoor facility primarily designed and used for 
athletic activities, physical education, or school-sponsored sports programs.
(2)
There is created the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program to provide funding to 
an eligible school for the construction or refurbishment of a sports facility.
(3)
The state board shall:
(a)
in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, 
make rules to:
(i)
create an application process for a school district to apply for program funds;
(ii)
select a school to receive program funds in accordance with Subsection 
(3)(b)
; and
(iii)
establish a system to distribute program funds to a school the state board selects 
to receive program funds through the program; and
(b)
subject to legislative appropriations, prioritize applications and distribute program 
funds to an eligible school based on:
(i)
the greatest need for program funds;
(ii)
the financial feasibility of a sports facility construction or refurbishment project; 
and
(iii)
the potential benefit program funds may have on the community.
(4)
(a)
A school district with jurisdiction over an eligible school may submit an 
application to receive program funds under this section.
(b)
In the school district's application, the school district shall:
(i)
identify an eligible school within the school district that wishes to receive program 
funds;
(ii)
evidence the need for construction or refurbishment of a sports facility;
(iii)
describe the proposed sports facility project; and
(iv)
estimate a budget and timeline for the completion of the sports facility project.
(5)
A school district to which the state board awards program funds shall submit a report to 
the state board, by December 31 each year while construction is ongoing, detailing:
(a)
how a school is using program funds to complete the sports facility project;
(b)
budget and timeline updates related to the construction or refurbishment of the sports 
facility; and
(c)
the progress of the construction or refurbishment of a sports facility.
(6)
Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board may award up to $500,000 to each 
eligible school the state board selects under the program.
(7)
Upon request of the Education Interim Committee, the state board shall report to the 
Education Interim Committee on:
(a)
the number of applications the state board accepts;
(b)
the dollar amount of program funds the state board awards under this section;
(c)
the implementation of the program; and
(d)
the use of program funds.
Section 4. 
FY 2026 Appropriations.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 
2025, and ending June 30, 2026. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for 
fiscal year 2026. 
Subsection 4(a).
Operating and Capital Budgets
Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the 
Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for 
the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
Public Education
State Board of Education - School Building Programs
ITEM 1
State Board of Education - School Building Programs - Public Education 
Capital Projects
From Public Education Economic Stabilization 
Restricted Account, One-time
4,390,000
Small District Athletic Facilities Grants
4,390,000
State Board of Education
ITEM 2
State Board of Education - Contracted Initiatives and Grants
Section 5. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
3-7-25 10:23 PM