Transportation Funding Revisions

12
53E-1-201
53E-1-202
53F-2-702
63I-1-253
0
Transportation Funding Revisions
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Heidi Balderree
House Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies and enacts provisions related to public school transportation funding.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
amends provisions to allow a charter school to be eligible for state transportation funding
beginning on a certain date;
requires the State Board of Education to conduct a study related to charter school
transportation funding;
creates reporting requirements;
creates a sunset provision; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-1-201
Effective
05/06/26
Partially Repealed
07/01/27
, as last amended by Laws
of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9
53E-1-202
Effective
05/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 7
53F-2-702
Effective
05/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 186
63I-1-253
Effective
05/06/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special
Session, Chapter 9
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
53E-1-201
is amended to read:
53E-1-201
Effective
05/06/26
Partially Repealed
07/01/27
. 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
53H-15-303
and the report
on research and activities described in Section
53H-15-305
by the Utah Data
Research Center;
(c)
the report described in Section
53H-1-203
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
53H-1-203
;
(e)
the reports described in Section
53H-7-603
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-3-501
by the state board on students in an LEA
who receive academic credit through the packet method;
(i)
the report described in Section
53E-8-204
by the state board on the Utah Schools for
the Deaf and the Blind;
(j)
the report described in Section
53E-10-703
by the Utah Leading through Effective,
Actionable, and Dynamic Education director on research and other activities;
(k)
the report described in Section
53F-2-522
regarding mental health screening
programs;
(l)
the report described in Section
53F-4-203
by the state board and the independent
evaluator on an evaluation of early interactive reading software;
(m)
the report described in Section
53F-6-412
by the program manager of the Utah Fits
All Scholarship Program;
(n)
the report described in Section
63N-20-107
by the Governor's Office of Economic
Opportunity on UPSTART;
(o)
the report described in Section
53F-5-215
by the state board related to a grant for an
elementary teacher preparation assessment;
(p)
upon request, the report described in Section
53F-5-219
by the state board on the
Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program;
(q)
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;
(r)
the report described in Section
53H-1-604
regarding the Higher Education and
Corrections Council;
(s)
the report described in Section
53G-7-221
by the state board regarding innovation
plans; and
(t)
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
53H-1-502
,
53H-1-503
, and
53H-1-504
;
(b)
in 2025, the report described in Section
53H-6-203
by a degree-granting institution
regarding policies on abusive coaching practices;
(c)
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;
(d)
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;
(e)
the report described in Section
53E-10-702
by Utah Leading through Effective,
Actionable, and Dynamic Education;
(f)
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;
(g)
the report described in Section
53F-2-702
by the state board regarding transportation
funding for charter schools;
(g)
(h)
upon request, the report described in Section
53F-10-303
by the state board
regarding the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program;
(h)
(i)
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;
(i)
(j)
the reports described in Section
53G-11-304
by the state board regarding
proposed rules and results related to educator exit surveys; and
(j)
(k)
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.
(3)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section
68-3-14
, every five years the
Education Interim Committee shall review the programs described in the following
sections of code:
(a)
beginning July 1,
2027,
Title
53E, Chapter 10, Part 3
Chapter 10, Part 3
,
Concurrent
Enrollment;
(b)
beginning July 1, 2027, Section
53F-2-408
, Enhancement for Accelerated Students
Program;
(c)
beginning July 1, 2027, Section
53F-2-409
, Concurrent enrollment funding;
(d)
beginning July 1, 2027, Section
53F-2-415
, Student health and counseling support --
Qualifying personnel -- Distribution formula -- Rulemaking;
(e)
beginning July 1, 2028, Section
53F-2-416
, Appropriation and distribution for the
Teacher and Student Success Program;
(f)
beginning July 1, 2028, Section
53F-2-510
, Digital Teaching and Learning Grant
Program;
(g)
beginning July 1, 2028, Section
53F-9-306
, Teacher and Student Success Account;
(h)
beginning July 1, 2028, Title
53G, Chapter 7, Part 13
, Teacher and Student Success
Program; and
(i)
beginning July 1, 2029, Section
53F-2-502
, Dual language immersion.
Section 2. Section
53E-1-202
is amended to read:
53E-1-202
Effective
05/06/26
. Reports to and action required of the Public
Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
(1)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section
68-3-14
, the following recurring
reports are due to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
(a)
the State Superintendent's Annual Report by the state board described in Section
53E-1-203
;
(b)
the report described in Section
53E-10-703
by the Utah Leading through Effective,
Actionable, and Dynamic Education director on research and other activities; and
(c)
the report by the STEM Action Center Board described in Section
9-22-109
,
including the information described in Section
9-22-113
on the status of the computer
science initiative.
(2)
In accordance with applicable provisions, the Public Education Appropriations
Subcommittee shall complete,

if required, the study described in Section
53F-4-304
of
scholarship payments.
(3)
The report described in Section
53F-2-702
by the state board regarding transportation
funding for charter schools is due to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
Section 3. Section
53F-2-702
is amended to read:
53F-2-702
Effective
05/06/26
. Funding for charter schools.
(1)
Except as described in Section
53F-2-302
, a charter school shall receive state funds, as
applicable, on the same basis as a school district receives funds.
(2)
(a)
As described in Section
53F-2-703
, the state board shall distribute charter school
levy per pupil revenues to charter schools.
(b)
As described in Section
53F-2-704
, and subject to future budget constraints, the
Legislature shall provide an appropriation for charter schools for each charter school
student enrolled on October 1 to supplement the allocation of charter school levy per
pupil revenues described in Subsection
(2)(a)
.
(3)
Charter schools are eligible to receive federal funds if they meet all applicable federal
requirements and comply with relevant federal regulations.
(4)
The state board shall distribute funds for charter school students directly to the charter
school.
(5)
(a)
Notwithstanding Subsection
(1)
, a charter school is not eligible to receive state
transportation funding
before July 1, 2028
.
(b)
Beginning July 1, 2028, a charter school is eligible to receive state transportation
funding under this section on the same basis as a school district, subject to legislative
appropriation and rules the state board adopts.
(b)
(c)
The state board shall also adopt rules relating to the transportation of students to
and from charter schools, taking into account Sections
53F-2-403
and
53G-6-405
.
(c)
(d)
A charter school governing board may provide transportation through an
agreement or contract with the local school board, a private provider, or parents.
(6)
(a)
(i)
In accordance with Section
53F-2-705
, the State Charter School Board may
allocate grants for start-up costs to charter schools from money appropriated for
charter school start-up costs.
(ii)
The charter school governing board of a charter school that receives money from
a grant under Section
53F-2-705
shall use the grant for expenses for planning and
implementation of the charter school.
(b)
The state board shall coordinate the distribution of federal money appropriated to
help fund costs for establishing and maintaining charter schools within the state.
(7)
(a)
A charter school may receive, hold, manage and use any devise, bequest, grant,
endowment, gift, or donation of any property made to the school for any of the
purposes of
Title 53G, Chapter 5, Charter Schools
, or related provisions.
(b)
It is unlawful for any person affiliated with a charter school to demand or request any
gift, donation, or contribution from a parent, teacher, employee, or other person
affiliated with the charter school as a condition for employment or enrollment at the
school or continued attendance at the school.
(8)
The state board shall:
(a)
to facilitate the eligibility transition described in Subsection
(5)(b)
, study options for
providing transportation funding or services for charter schools;
(b)
include in the study described in Subsection
(8)(a)
:
(i)
projected costs of providing transportation funding to charter schools statewide;
(ii)
funding models, including:
(A)
per-pupil allocations;
(B)
route-based or mileage-based funding; and
(C)
regional or cooperative transportation models;
(iii)
potential impacts on existing school district transportation funding;
(iv)
equity considerations for rural, suburban, and urban charter schools; and
(v)
statutory or rule changes necessary to implement charter school transportation
funding;
(c)
in conducting the study described in Subsection
(8)(a)
, consult with:
(i)
charter school governing boards and administrators;
(ii)
school district transportation directors; and
(iii)
the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst; and
(d)
before the November 2027 interim meetings, report findings and recommendations
of the report to the:
(i)
Education Interim Committee; and
(ii)
Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
Section 4. Section
63I-1-253
is amended to read:
63I-1-253
Effective
05/06/26
. Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
(1)
Section
53-1-122
, Road Rage Awareness and Prevention Restricted Account, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
(2)
Section
53-2a-105
, Emergency Management Administration Council created --
Function -- Composition -- Expenses, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(3)
Section
53-2a-1103
, Search and Rescue Advisory Board -- Members -- Compensation,
is repealed July 1, 2030.
(4)
Section
53-2a-1104
, General duties of the Search and Rescue Advisory Board, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(5)
Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 15, Grid Resilience Committee
, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(6)
Section
53-2d-104
, State Emergency Medical Services Committee -- Membership --
Expenses, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(7)
Section
53-2d-503
, Establishment of maximum rates, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(8)
Section
53-5a-302
, Concealed Firearm Review Board -- Membership -- Compensation
-- Terms -- Duties, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(9)
Section
53-11-104
, Board, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(10)
Title
53, Chapter 31
, Department Interaction With Local Law Enforcement, is repealed
July 1, 2027.
(11)
Subsection
53C-3-203
(4)(b)(vii)
, regarding the distribution of money from the Land
Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells and other
hydrologic studies in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2030.
(12)
Subsection
53E-1-201
(1)(q)
, regarding the Higher Education and Corrections Council,
is repealed July 1, 2027.
(13)
Subsection
53E-1-201(2)(g)
, regarding a report to the Education Interim Committee on
transportation funding for charter schools, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(14)
Subsection
53E-1-202(3)
, regarding a report to the Public Education Appropriations
Subcommittee on transportation funding for charter schools, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(13)
(15)
Subsection
53E-2-304
(6)
, regarding foreclosing a private right of action or
waiver of governmental immunity, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(14)
(16)
Subsection
53E-3-503
(5)
, regarding coordinating councils for youth in care, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(15)
(17)
Subsection
53E-3-503
(6)
, regarding coordinating councils for youth in care, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(16)
(18)
Subsection
53E-4-202
(8)(b)
, regarding a standards review committee, is repealed
January 1, 2028.
(17)
(19)
Section
53E-4-203
, Standards review committee, is repealed January 1, 2028.
(18)
(20)
Title 53E, Chapter 6, Part 5, Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission
,
is repealed July 1, 2033.
(19)
(21)
Subsection
53E-7-207
(7)
, regarding a private right of action or waiver of
governmental immunity, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(22)
Subsection
53F-2-702(5)(a)
, excluding a charter school from receiving state
transportation funding, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(23)
Subsection
53F-2-702(8)
, regarding a report by the state board regarding transportation
funding for charter schools, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(20)
(24)
Section
53F-5-215
, Elementary teacher preparation assessment grant, is repealed
July 1, 2028.
(21)
(25)
Section
53F-5-219
, Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program, is
repealed July 1, 2026.
(22)
(26)
Title 53F, Chapter 10, Part 2, Capital Projects Evaluation Panel
, is repealed July
1, 2027.
(23)
(27)
Subsection
53G-4-608
(2)(b)
, regarding the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(24)
(28)
Subsection
53G-4-608
(4)(b)
, regarding the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(25)
(29)
Section
53G-9-212
, Drinking water quality in schools, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(26)
(30)
Subsection
53G-9-703(4)
, regarding the parental video presentation concerning
student use of technology, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(27)
(31)
Subsection
53H-1-402(1)(j)
, regarding the Higher Education and Corrections
Council, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(28)
(32)
Section
53H-1-604
, Higher Education and Corrections Council, is repealed July
1, 2027.
(29)
(33)
Subsection
53H-4-210(3)
, regarding the creation of the SafeUT and School
Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(30)
(34)
Subsection
53H-4-210(4)
, regarding the appointment of the members of the
SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(31)
(35)
Subsection
53H-4-210(5)
, regarding the attorney general designating the chair of
the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(32)
(36)
Subsection
53H-4-210(6)
, regarding the quorum requirements of the SafeUT and
School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(33)
(37)
Subsection
53H-4-210(7)
, regarding a formal action of the SafeUT and School
Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(34)
(38)
Subsection
53H-4-210(8)
, regarding compensation for members of the SafeUT
and School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(35)
(39)
Subsection
53H-4-210(9)
, regarding the support staff for the SafeUT and School
Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(36)
(40)
Section
53H-4-306.1
, Definitions -- Electrification of Transportation
Infrastructure Research Center, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(37)
(41)
Section
53H-4-306.2
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Designation -- Duties, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(38)
(42)
Section
53H-4-306.3
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Steering committee, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(39)
(43)
Section
53H-4-306.4
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Industry advisory board, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(40)
(44)
Section
53H-4-306.5
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Duties of the project director, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(41)
(45)
Section
53H-4-306.6
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Project development and strategic objectives -- Reporting requirements, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
(42)
(46)
Section
53H-4-307.1
, Center for Civic Excellence, is repealed July 1, 2030.
(43)
(47)
Section
53H-4-307.2
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Duties -- Authority, is
repealed July 1, 2030.
(44)
(48)
Section
53H-4-307.3
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Leadership, is repealed July
1, 2030.
(45)
(49)
Section
53H-4-307.4
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Faculty, is repealed July 1,
2030.
(46)
(50)
Section
53H-4-307.5
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Curriculum, is repealed July
1, 2030.
(47)
(51)
Section
53H-4-307.6
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Oversight -- Reporting, is
repealed July 1, 2030.
(48)
(52)
Section
53H-4-313
, Food Security Council, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(49)
(53)
Section
53H-8-305
, Five-year performance goals, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(50)
(54)
Title
53H, Chapter 10, Part 4
, Education Savings Incentive Program, is repealed
July 1, 2028.
Section 5.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
2-17-26 12:23 PM