Utah 2026 General Session Status: To Executive Bipartisan · 1 I · 1 R cosponsors

SB 189 — School District Funding Amendments

Last action — Senate/ filed

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 23, 2026. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 62% · moderate confidence

  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (1 I · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

157 added · 193 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill SB 189 focus on addressing disparities in school enrollment growth when districts reorganize. The revised bill now includes provisions for "voluntary high growth transition loan arrangements" for newly formed districts, which could help them manage challenges as they grow. It also specifies that these districts must plan for high growth during their asset allocation. These changes are important because they aim to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and fairly during periods of significant growth in student enrollment.

→
Previous
Latest
SB0189S04 compared with SB0189S01 {Omitted text} shows text that was in SB0189S01 but was omitted in SB0189S04 inserted text shows text that was not in SB0189S01 but was inserted into SB0189S04 DISCLAIMER:
SB0189S04 compared with SB0189 {Omitted text} shows text that was in SB0189 but was omitted in SB0189S04 inserted text shows text that was not in SB0189 but was inserted into SB0189S04 DISCLAIMER:
S ▸ {provides special provisions for newly created or reorganized school districts;} B ▸ {provides a distribution formula for grant funds;
▸ {provides special provisions for newly created or reorganized school districts;} ▸ {provides a distribution formula for grant funds;
and} 8 ▸ requires high growth transition planning during asset allocation;
and} S B ▸ requires high growth transition planning during asset allocation;
9 S ▸ 1 SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 directs the State Board of Education to track and report on growth patterns in reorganizations;
1 ▸ 8 SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 directs the State Board of Education to track and report on growth patterns in reorganizations;
▸ { This bill appropriates $15,000,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027, all of which is from the various sources as detailed in this bill.
None Other Special Clauses:
} None Other Special Clauses:
High Growth District Grant Program - 2 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 53F-10-401.
High Growth District Grant Program 53F-10-401.
(2) "Average annual net enrollment increase" means the sum of a school district's net enrollment increase for each year during the three school years immediately preceding the fiscal year for which the school district applies for a grant divided by three.
- 2 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (2) "Average annual net enrollment increase" means the sum of a school district's net enrollment increase for each year during the three school years immediately preceding the fiscal year for which the school district applies for a grant divided by three.
(a) acquiring land and facilities to accommodate enrollment growth, including purchasing land for future school sites, purchasing existing buildings, and related construction or renovation;
(a) land acquisition for future school sites;
and (b) expanding transportation infrastructure to accommodate enrollment growth, including purchasing school buses and constructing or expanding transportation facilities.
and (b) transportation infrastructure expansion to accommodate rapid enrollment growth.
- 3 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (d) establish an application process, timeline, and reporting requirements by rule in accordance with Section 53F-10-405;
(d) establish an application process, timeline, and reporting requirements by rule in accordance with Section 53F-10-405;
Section 3.
- 3 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 Section 3.
and - 4 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (D) other demographic data the state board considers relevant.
and (D) other demographic data the state board considers relevant.
(A) using as the baseline ADM the number of students from the geographic territory served by the new or reorganized school district who were enrolled in the predecessor district or districts for the fiscal year immediately preceding the creation or reorganization;
- 4 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (A) using as the baseline ADM the number of students from the geographic territory served by the new or reorganized school district who were enrolled in the predecessor district or districts for the fiscal year immediately preceding the creation or reorganization;
- 5 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (ii) for the two fiscal years immediately following the fiscal year described in Subsection (5)(b)(i), the state board shall calculate the remaining school district's average annual net enrollment increase using:
(ii) for the two fiscal years immediately following the fiscal year described in Subsection (5)(b)(i), the state board shall calculate the remaining school district's average annual net enrollment increase using:
and (iii) beginning with the third fiscal year after the split, consolidation, or reorganization, the state board shall calculate the school district's average annual net enrollment increase using the standard methodology described in Subsection (2).
and - 5 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (iii) beginning with the third fiscal year after the split, consolidation, or reorganization, the state board shall calculate the school district's average annual net enrollment increase using the standard methodology described in Subsection (2).
(a) acquiring facilities, including:
(a) purchasing land for future school sites, including:
(i) purchasing land for future school sites;
(i) conducting feasibility studies;
(ii) purchasing existing buildings for conversion to educational use;
(ii) obtaining appraisals;
- 6 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (iii) conducting feasibility studies;
(iii) paying closing costs;
(iv) obtaining appraisals;
and (iv) conducting environmental assessments;
(v) paying closing costs;
(b) expanding transportation infrastructure to serve new or expanded school facilities, including:
and (vi) conducting environmental assessments;
(b) constructing, expanding, or renovating facilities to accommodate enrollment growth, including:
(i) constructing new school buildings or additions;
(ii) renovating purchased buildings for educational use;
and (iii) expanding existing facilities;
(c) expanding transportation infrastructure to serve new or expanded school facilities, including:
or (d) paying for costs directly related to the activities described in Subsections (3)(a) through (3)(c).
or (c) paying for costs directly related to the activities described in Subsection (3)(a) or (3)(b).
(4) An eligible district may not use grant funds received under this section for ongoing operational expenses, including:
- 6 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (4) An eligible district may not use grant funds received under this section for:
(a) salaries or benefits for personnel;
(a) school construction or renovation costs;
(b) utilities or maintenance costs;
or (b) ongoing operational expenses unrelated to land acquisition or transportation expansion.
(c) instructional materials or supplies;
or (d) other recurring operational costs.
- 7 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (b) reporting requirements for eligible districts that receive program grants, including:
(b) reporting requirements for eligible districts that receive program grants, including:
High Growth Framework for School District Reorganizations 53F-10-501.
High Growth Framework for School District Reorganizations - 7 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 53F-10-501.
- 8 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (1) For purposes of this part, a successor district is a high growth successor district if:
(1) For purposes of this part, a successor district is a high growth successor district if:
(3) The State Board shall report annually to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee regarding:
- 8 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (3) The State Board shall report annually to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee regarding:
- 9 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (1) Successor districts from the same divided school district may enter into interlocal agreements under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, to create voluntary transition loan arrangements to address enrollment growth disparities.
(1) Successor districts from the same divided school district may enter into interlocal agreements under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, to create voluntary transition loan arrangements to address enrollment growth disparities.
(f) acceleration of repayment if the borrowing district issues bonds for school construction;
- 9 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (f) acceleration of repayment if the borrowing district issues bonds for school construction;
Show all 69 changed rows (29 more)
Previous
Latest
- 10 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (b) guidance on calculating proportional shares;
(b) guidance on calculating proportional shares;
(b) (i) "Discretionary asset or liability" means an asset or liability that is not tied to a specific project, school, student, or employee by law or school district accounting practice.
(b) - 10 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (i) "Discretionary asset or liability" means an asset or liability that is not tied to a specific project, school, student, or employee by law or school district accounting practice.
or - 11 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (B) deferred maintenance.
or (B) deferred maintenance.
(ii) any new school district and reorganized new school district shall divide the assets and liabilities of the divided school district between the school districts in accordance with Subsection (4) and Section 53G-3-307;
- 11 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (ii) any new school district and reorganized new school district shall divide the assets and liabilities of the divided school district between the school districts in accordance with Subsection (4) and Section 53G-3-307;
- 12 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (C) the new school district shall provide educational services, including, if provided before the creation of the new school district, busing to each individual making an election under Subsection (2)(a)(iv) for each school year for which the individual makes the election;
(C) the new school district shall provide educational services, including, if provided before the creation of the new school district, busing to each individual making an election under Subsection (2)(a)(iv) for each school year for which the individual makes the election;
(ii) Notwithstanding the existence of the new school district local school board and the reorganized new school district local school board under Subsection (2)(a)(i), the divided school district local school board shall continue to function and exercise authority as a local school board until the allocation date to the extent necessary to continue to provide educational services to the entire divided school district.
(ii) Notwithstanding the existence of the new school district local school board and the reorganized new school district local school board under Subsection (2)(a)(i), the divided school district local school board shall continue to function and exercise authority as a local school board until the allocation - 12 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 date to the extent necessary to continue to provide educational services to the entire divided school district.
- 13 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (ii) If the term of a member of the local school board of the divided school district ends within one year of the allocation date, the member's term shall extend to the allocation date.
(ii) If the term of a member of the local school board of the divided school district ends within one year of the allocation date, the member's term shall extend to the allocation date.
and (iv) deliver the reports described in this Subsection (3)(a) to:
and - 13 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (iv) deliver the reports described in this Subsection (3)(a) to:
and - 14 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (iv) deliver a copy of the written report to the Office of the Legislative Auditor General and the local school board of the divided school district.
and (iv) deliver a copy of the written report to the Office of the Legislative Auditor General and the local school board of the divided school district.
and (B) in a manner that gives each school district a fleet of vehicles for pupil transportation that is equivalent in terms of age, condition, and variety of carrying capacities;
and - 14 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (B) in a manner that gives each school district a fleet of vehicles for pupil transportation that is equivalent in terms of age, condition, and variety of carrying capacities;
(5) - 15 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (a) (i) After the creation date, the local school board of the divided district may issue a lease revenue bond, in accordance with Section 11-14-103:
(5) (a) (i) After the creation date, the local school board of the divided district may issue a lease revenue bond, in accordance with Section 11-14-103:
(ii) This Subsection (5)(a) applies retrospectively to a lease revenue bond that a divided school district issued after November 4, 2024.
- 15 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (ii) This Subsection (5)(a) applies retrospectively to a lease revenue bond that a divided school district issued after November 4, 2024.
- 16 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (B) obligates the new and reorganized new school districts receiving the bond proceeds to proportionally repay the remainder of the bond debt after the allocation date, in proportion to the portion of the bond proceeds each new or reorganized new school district receives;
(B) obligates the new and reorganized new school districts receiving the bond proceeds to proportionally repay the remainder of the bond debt after the allocation date, in proportion to the portion of the bond proceeds each new or reorganized new school district receives;
(ii) A lease revenue bond described in Subsection (5)(c)(i) is not subject to the combined total limitation described in Subsection 11-14-103(6)(b)(i) due to the prior approval of voters within the new or reorganized new school district for the general obligation bond.
- 16 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (ii) A lease revenue bond described in Subsection (5)(c)(i) is not subject to the combined total limitation described in Subsection 11-14-103(6)(b)(i) due to the prior approval of voters within the new or reorganized new school district for the general obligation bond.
- 17 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (b) The divided school district shall complete each transfer of title or, if applicable, partial title to real property and vehicles on the allocation date, except as that date is changed by the mutual agreement of:
(b) The divided school district shall complete each transfer of title or, if applicable, partial title to real property and vehicles on the allocation date, except as that date is changed by the mutual agreement of:
and (B) use proceeds from a sale described in this Subsection (6)(e) to fund the following year's career and technical education program project.
and - 17 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (B) use proceeds from a sale described in this Subsection (6)(e) to fund the following year's career and technical education program project.
- 18 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (b) As described in Subsection 63G-2-206(1)(a), the successor district shall serve as a repository of archives for purposes of historical preservation, administrative maintenance, or destruction of all the divided school district's books, accounts, and records.
(b) As described in Subsection 63G-2-206(1)(a), the successor district shall serve as a repository of archives for purposes of historical preservation, administrative maintenance, or destruction of all the divided school district's books, accounts, and records.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection 53G-4-402(24), upon the creation of a new school district or a reorganized new school district, a divided school district may not close a school, except with the consent of the relevant local school board of the new school district or relevant reorganized new school district once the members of the local school board take the oath of office.
- 18 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection 53G-4-402(24), upon the creation of a new school district or a reorganized new school district, a divided school district may not close a school, except with the consent of the relevant local school board of the new school district or relevant reorganized new school district once the members of the local school board take the oath of office.
- 19 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 (a) for costs that a new school district incurs, the new school district;
(a) for costs that a new school district incurs, the new school district;
(iii) assessment of facility capacity in each successor district relative to projected enrollment;
- 19 - SB0189 compared with SB0189S04 (iii) assessment of facility capacity in each successor district relative to projected enrollment;
Section .
Section 6.
FY 2027 Appropriations.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, - 20 - SB0189S01 compared with SB0189S04 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.
These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2027.
Subsection 6(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.
ITEM 1 To State Board of Education - School Building Programs - Public Education Capital Projects From Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account, One-time 15,000,000 Schedule of Programs:
High Growth District Grant Program 15,000,000 Section 6.
3-3-26 10:06 AM - 21 -
3-3-26 10:06 AM - 20 -
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (9)

Action History

  1. Senate/ filed

  2. Senate/ received from House

  3. House/ to Senate

  4. House/ strike enacting clause

  5. House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules [House Rules Committee]

  6. House/ circled

  7. House/ 3rd reading

  8. House/ 2nd reading

  9. House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar

  10. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  11. House/ received from Senate

  12. Senate/ to House

  13. Senate/ passed 3rd reading

  14. Senate/ uncircled

  15. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0189S04

  16. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0189S04

  17. Senate/ circled

  18. Senate/ substituted

  19. Senate/ uncircled

  20. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0189S04

  21. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0189S04

  22. Senate/ circled

  23. Senate/ 3rd reading

  24. Senate/ passed 2nd reading

  25. Senate/ substituted

  26. Senate/ uncircled

  27. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0189S03

  28. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0189S02

  29. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0189S03

  30. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0189S02

  31. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0189S03

  32. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0189S03

  33. Senate/ circled

  34. Senate/ substituted

  35. Senate/ 2nd reading

  36. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0189S02

  37. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0189S02

  38. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  39. Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Education Committee]

  40. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]

  41. Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]

  42. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0189S01

  43. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0189S01

  44. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0189S01

  45. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0189S01

  46. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]

  47. Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  48. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0189

  49. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0189

  50. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  51. Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research

  52. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0189

  53. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0189

  54. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  55. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 102 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (102)

102 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 102 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 189?
SB 189 is sponsored by Tracy Miller (Republican) and Emily Buss (F).
What is the current status of SB 189?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 23, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track SB 189?
Track SB 189 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 189

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 189

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →