H.B. 334 Educator Organization Amendments

What this bill does

This bill would create a temporary legislative commission to study how Utah supports educators, including communication, professional development, and recognition and accountability. The commission would end in March 2028 and would not require any new programs, and a Senate amendment adds one rural senator, one rural representative, and one rural teacher to its membership.

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Every vote

• 9 yes, 0 no, 6 absentHouse Education Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
• 61 yes, 6 no, 8 absentFinal House vote · Feb 26, 2026Who voted how
• 8 yes, 20 no, 1 absentSenate vote, which failed · Mar 6, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Feb 20, 2026 House Education Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (29 turns)

  1. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:42:31

     Uh, thank you Senator Balderree. We're gonna go to House Bill 3 34. First substitute Education educator Organization Amendments Representative Monson. Uh, thank you for being here with us today. And, uh, I'll just note we do have one additional bill on the agenda to the members of the committee and to the public. Uh, after, uh, house Bill 3 34. The time is yours.

  2. Rep. Logan Monson1:42:52

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman Committee. I will be as brief as possible and try and get through this quickly. Um, house Bill 3 34. This bill creates, uh, the Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission. Um, pretty simple and purpose. What this commission would do is they would, um, basically we're looking to find a way to improve how the legislature listens and supports educators, how we develop policy and make, making sure it's grounded in, in classroom reality. So this study, um, this is a, a, a study commission, not a mandate, not a new program. What we're looking to try and resolve here with, with this commission is that, um, we've heard consistent and, and pretty regular, um, concerns about how educators and school leaders are feeling on things. Teachers often feel, um, disconnected from state policy decisions. Communication between educators, LEAs, the state school board and the legislature is, is often felt as inconsistent. Professional development opportunities vary widely across the state. So what we're trying to do is to accomplish something that, that brings all of these people together. It puts a, a commission together that has legislators, school board, superintendent, teacher, um, professional development experts, um, and we want them to study how communication and representation is done, professional development and support, recognition, innovation and accountability. And we require this commission to report back to the legislature. So, pretty simple. I'll, I'll leave it at that unless you have questions for me.

  3. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:44:39

     Alright, so the committee for clarifying questions, Representative MacPherson.

  4. Rep. Matt MacPherson1:44:43

     Thank you Mr. Chair. And really, I thank you for bringing this though. I do have one question, and that is, um, we have, I think somewhere in the neighborhood of 400, uh, boards and commissions in code right now. Um, is this something that needs to be in a new commission? You know, I'm I hearing from the people that I work with? Yes. And, and the people that I work with. Mind you, I, I represent a district that's very rural. Um, so having a very rural district oftentimes feels separate and distant from everything that's happening here at the Capitol. Um, so, so to those that I represent, yes, maybe to us that are part of those commissions and, and going to all those meetings, one more is too much. Um, and, and really that's up for the committee and, and, and the body to, to decide. And I happy, happy to support it, happy to go with, um, what the committee feels like we need. I, I do feel like there's an opportunity to provide more resources and have more conversation around this, so willing to see where it goes. Thank you. Thank You.

  5. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:45:46

     Alright, thank you. I'm seeing no further lights. We're gonna go to the public or the members of the public that are here to speak to this bill. Uh, it looks like 1, 2, 3, 4 or so. So, um, again, I'll set the timer for one minute. Uh, please make sure you introduce yourself, uh, tell us your, who you represent, if any, and make sure you sign in. Thank you. Time is yours. Thank

  6. Sarah Jones, Utah Education Association1:46:11

     You. Good morning committee members. I'm Sarah Jones with the Utah Education Association. I just first of all, wanna thank Representative Monson for some previous conversations that we had and, um, striking some problematic language that no longer is in the substitute. Um, we do have, still have some questions about clarity though, of how the commission will operate and the purposes. So for example, there could be some clarifying language about membership based organization on line 45, and then that pivots to professional organization on line one 10. Neither is defined and there are dozens of education related organizations in the state. So who really are we trying to get at there? Um, lines 67 and lines 1 57 seem to be left over from the original version of the bill because they referenced division of risk management. Um, the idea about communication is not entirely clear. I think really what the goal is, is to have more inclusion of educators and decision making. So we appreciate the goals of the legislation. The scope feels very broad, feels like it could be narrowed significantly. And if the, if the committee moves the bill forward, we'd like to continue to work together with Representative Monson. Thank you.

  7. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:47:30

     Thank you. Please go ahead.

  8. Brad Asay, President, AFT Utah1:47:33

     Thank you Mr. Chair committee. Brad ac, uh, president, a FT Utah. And, uh, I don't want to, uh, repeat anything that my, uh, good friend Sarah brought up. Uh, many of the same things that we have, however, we are as a FT Utah opposing the bill. Uh, we've talked to educators, we've talked to support staff, which we represent. And the problem that we see with this is, uh, we haven't been able to even implement what's already been brought down from the legislature in the schools. We just feel like this is an added, uh, level, don't know what's coming, uh, from it in the, in the end, and worried that more mandates will come down from this when we haven't been able to even keep up with what's already been passed and implemented in our classrooms. Thanks.

  9. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:48:21

     Thank you. Please go ahead.

  10. Danica Puente, teacher1:48:25

      Hi, my name is Danica Puente and I am a Davis teacher. And I wanted to, um, speak a little bit about how this is actually a good idea. I know that there's some clarity that needs to be, um, gone through and I, I appreciate what, what Representative MacPherson said about Yes, there are committees, but, um, I have been attending the Hill, um, now for several years as a teacher, and I take off my own time to do that because I realized very quickly that, um, my job is political even if that's not what I, I thought it was when I went into it. And so I very much, um, take the time off to come up here. I leave my students so that I can come up and talk to legislators. And I know that not everyone has that opportunity. And I think that if we had something like this that we give more of our regular educators, um, are the people who these decisions affect on a daily and BA basis, then it would be a good idea to involve them in that. So I support the overall idea and I think that, um, if this is something that we could make happen, um, you will see more support from educators in the decisions that are made up here. Thank

  11. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:49:35

      You. Thank you. Please go ahead.

  12. Jennifer Partridge, Utah School Boards Association and Utah School Superintendents Association1:49:39

      Hello committee. I'm Jennifer Partridge. I'm the Vice President of the Utah School Boards Association, and I'm here today representing USBA and the JLC. That also includes our superintendent's association. Uh, one of our priorities this year has been to form an education working group. And, um, although we have not taken a position yet on this bill, we're gonna be discussing this one later today in our meeting. Uh, we have taken a position on a similar bill by Senator Stratton of support. Um, and I see this from what I know of this bill, to have a similar intent to bring educators to the table with legislators so that we can discuss education issues together. And you can get that perspective of people who are living this every day to help you in your decisions, which I know is your intent already. It just helps, um, make that a system. And, uh, our belief is that this will help us not give more to our teachers and more requirements, but actually help lessen that load and, um, help you guys make decisions on what, where to focus. So thank you.

  13. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:50:47

      Thank you. All right. Do we have anybody online? No. Alright. Seeing none. That concludes our public comment. We're gonna go to the Committee for action items. Uh, I'm gonna go to Representative Thompson.

  14. Rep. Jordan D. Teuscher1:51:05

      Thank you Mr. Chair. I'd like to, um, do we need to adopt this sub? No, it was adopted in, in before Rules. Yeah. I'd like to move that We favorably, um, recommend, um, this f what this is 3 34, um, favorably recommend first substitute house bill 3 34 to the floor for full consideration.

  15. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:51:29

      That motion is an order. Would you like to speak to it?

  16. Rep. Jason E. Thompson1:51:32

      I would love to speak to it. Um, uh, I want to thank the, the sponsor for bringing this bill. Um, I've spent a considerable amount of my time over the past year working in the public education space, and I'm gonna make one very clear and simple statement. Um, education, uh, communication and coordination between, um, the legislature and LEAs between the state board and LEAs between the state board and the legislation. It's a freaking mess. And to be honest with you, this is, if, if, and I know there's, this is a workload bill, this is a workload bill, there's gonna be some concern about that. But if there is one place in education that we can really, um, move education forward in a positive way, it is, it is with this commission, it was with bringing these people to the table to have this conversation and to close these gaps in communication. And, um, I I can't support this Bill Moore and I appreciate this sponsor for his work on doing it, and I'd love to be involved in any way that I can. Thank you.

  17. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:52:34

      Thank you. I've got a number of lights on, uh, so we're gonna go to members of the committee on the motion to recommend favorably. I'm gonna go to, uh, Representative Hayes. Thank

  18. Rep. Sandra Hollins1:52:44

      You. You, Mr. Chair. Um, I have a question for the sponsor before I feel comfortable voting on this. Is that okay? That's fine. You're welcome to ask clarifying questions. Wonderful, thank you. Um, so, and I'm sorry, I apologize for not getting into this sooner. Um, I'm a little bit leery about the pay structure for this commission, and I say that because it specifically calls out the legislators for being paid, but it includes a state school board member. And my understanding is they also get paid for their work. Um, and it also includes two teachers. And this is asking them to do more than they are contracted for while not being paid for it, which i, I have concerns with. I'm wondering if you can address that.

  19. Rep. Logan Monson1:53:22

      Yeah. So obviously a, a concern of, of, um, for teachers is, is working long hours without getting paid, right? We see that all the time. Um, several school districts have already days that they can, that they give teachers for education related things and, and meetings and things. Um, I have been told that this would fit into that and that, that they could accommodate that, that would obviously depend on the district that these teachers came from. Um, but have been told that there are ways to, to work around that to help make sure that they're paid for the time they're taking. Um, and then just as a follow up, what about the state school board member? Um, I have, have not talked to them about that.

  20. Rep. Sandra Hollins1:53:59

      Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

  21. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:54:01

      Alright, thank you. We're gonna go to Representative Welton.

  22. Rep. Doug Welton1:54:06

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I'd like to speak in support of this bill. I, I think this, uh, one of the concerns I've had as an educator is prior to getting here is not everyone can do this job. But having that, uh, varied and robust discussion on, on subject that affects everybody in the state is, is really important. And so I think this, uh, kind of threads a, a nice needle there to, uh, uh, give that varied, robust discussion with legislators that they need and also educators and, and hopefully that helps us move good policy forward.

  23. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:54:40

      Thank you, Representative Welton. We're gonna go to Representative MacPherson.

  24. Rep. Matt MacPherson1:54:44

      Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also support this motion very look much looking forward to, um, seeing this. Um, and I think, uh, just to reference, I think what was brought up before and on those boards and commissions under statute currently, um, legislators have to be compensated for their time, uh, currently. And other, uh, other members of those, uh, commissions are typically not paid, uh, other than their per diem or their stipends for those, that's, I, I think according to statute, how that already exists. So thank you very much for bringing this

  25. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:55:17

      Thank you, Representative MacPherson. Uh, we're gonna go back to the sponsor to some,

  26. Rep. Logan Monson1:55:23

      Yeah, I don't want to belabor this anymore. I appreciate it. I think that, um, when, when we take the the teacher's perspective into account, we, we can really see the value that we have as a legislature. Most teachers do not want to be here. They don't want to come here. They don't want anything to do with, with, uh, with what's up here. Because they want to teach, teach kids, they care about their kids. And, um, if we can find ways to bring them into conversations that's comfortable for them, that provides value, I think we have a real opportunity to do it. And, and I appreciate your support on the bill. Thank you.

  27. Unknown speaker1:55:55speaker not certain

      Thank you. And to the maker of the motion Representative Thompson, this Is a really good bill and I would encourage my colleagues to vote in support. Thank you.

  28. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:56:03

      All right, thank you. The motion before us is to recommend Favorably House Bill 3 34. First substitute Educator Organization amendments. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Thank you.

  29. Committee chair (Rep. R. Neil Walter)1:56:20

      Thank you, Representative Monson. Thank you. Members of the committee. Uh, Senator McKay will be here momentarily. Uh, I've made, I'm not gonna recognize that. Motion. Take. Motion to pretend to Saunt Representative MacPherson. Motion to saunter. We have a motion to saunter. Please do not leave. Committee members do not saunter very far. Uh, well, that's okay. All right. Uh, we've been waiting, uh, for quite a while. I'm gonna go to Representative MacPherson for a motion. Motion to adjourn. The motion is to adjourn. Uh, I'll just note that, uh, we've been waiting. We don't have a senator. We're gonna, the motion is before us to the committee members that we have a mo Non debatable To the committee. To the committee members. All in favor of the motion to adjourn. Please say Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. We adjourned.

• Feb 26, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)24:26

     For substitute house bill 3 34 Educator Organization amendments by Representative Monson. This bill was heard in education with the vote of 9 0 6

  2. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)24:39

     Representative Monson.

  3. Rep. Logan Monson24:41

     Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro tem. This bill, um, this bill creates a legislative education support and professional development commission. It's pur this, the, the commission. Um, and the purpose is pretty simple. It's to improve how the legislature listens to teachers, supports educators and developed policy grounded in classroom policy or, or reality. Um, the, the study commission is not a mandate and it's not a program expansion. A couple things that we're trying to solve, um, or, or work on with this commission is that over the past several years, we've heard consistent concerns from educators and school leaders. Teachers often feel disconnected from state policy decisions. Communication is often missed and, and, um, not taken seriously by some professional development opportunities vary widely across the state. And advancement opportunities for great teachers are limited outside of administration. This bill is structured to eval, evaluate all of those things, um, and identify real solutions. So what this bill does is two, two main things. It creates the temporary, um, legislative commission and it directs them to study some core, um, objectives. And those core objectives are, are three, fall in three different areas. First communication and representation. Second is professional development and support. And then the third is recognition, innovation, and accountability. This requires this commission to report back to the legislature, um, and it includes a Sunset date as well, uh, for, for March of 2028. What this bill does not do, it does not create a mandate for programs and it does not favor any educator organization. It simply gives the legislature better information before making policy decisions around education. Um, with that, I'll answer any questions,

  4. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)26:46

     Discussion to the bill. Being none back to you representative for summation?

  5. Rep. Logan Monson26:53

     Yeah, I would, I mean, just quickly, this, this is really a thoughtful, temporary bipartisan structure to help us better, um, support Utah educators and students with the signaled end to the Federal Department of Education, there is a window for us to start some of these conversations in a different way than we've done before, and I would appreciate the support. Thank you.

  6. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)27:15

     Thank you. The vote will be opened on first substitute house bill 3 34. Seeing all president have voted, the vote will be closed. First substitute house bill 3 34 passes with 61 yays and six nays and will be sent to the Senate for further consideration. Madam Marine Clerk

• Mar 6, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (25 turns)

  1. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:00:15

     Senator Balderree. Thank you Mr. President, do I need to adopt the first sub One more time? Do I need to adopt the first sub? If you have a substitute, you wanna be adopted, that would be good to do. It's already, So if there's looking great, Then I will, um, begin my presentation.

  2. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:00:39

     Thank you. So, uh, to the bill, um, we often talk about supporting our teachers, but right now we're failing to provide them with choices. House Bill 3 34 isn't just about an insurance policy. It's about breaking a monopoly on professional support and ensuring that every Utah educator has a seat at the table regardless of which organization they choose to join. Uh, the bill creates the legislative education support and professional development commission to evaluate the current gaps in educator support. The reality is that for too long, professional liability insurance or the safety net, every teacher needs to do their job safely, has been tied almost exclusively to membership in one specific organization. Currently, thousands of Utah educators feel compelled, feel compelled to pay membership dues to a single entity just to secure the professional liability coverage they need to step into a classroom and we're effectively taxing their career piece, piece of mind. This commission is tasked with looking at innovative models for teacher recognition and advancement. See lines 50 and 51. The goal is to move beyond the one size fits all model of professional development. We need state supported networks that focus on pedagogy and innovation, not political advocacy. Critics may call this a union busting bill, but the structure of the commission says otherwise. The commission includes Senator Vickers and representatives, the state superintendent, and most importantly, active classroom teachers see lines 55 to 63. Um, this is a balanced bipartisan study group aimed at improving the lives of teachers. A teacher's focus should be on the student in the, in the desk and not the politics of the organization. They're forced to join to protect their career. HB 3 34 ensures that in Utah professional support is a right of the educator, not a privilege of the member. And with that I conclude my presentation.

  3. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:02:42

     It looks like there is an amendment to adopt. So he's, do I make him I move to adopt Amendment one in my name.

  4. Senate President (presiding)1:02:56

     Thank you. The motion to amend is in order again if, let me make sure I show it on here. I see amendment one. Do you have any further presentation? Amendment one? If not amendment placed the motion.

  5. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:03:15speaker not certain

     Uh, I can speak to, to the amendment or after the

  6. Senate President (presiding)1:03:17

     Go ahead, speak to the amendment.

  7. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:03:19

     So the amendment just adds representation from, uh, one person from rural, uh, one rural senator, one rural representative, and one rural teacher.

  8. Senate President (presiding)1:03:29

     Thank you. We have discussion on the motion to amend. Senator Riebe, are you up on that motion? Seeing No discussion. All in favor of amendment one in Senator Balder's name Say aye. Any opposed or let Motion passes the bill as amended. Senator Balderree, any further presentation to the bill?

  9. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:03:51

     No. That concludes my presentation.

  10. Senate President (presiding)1:03:53

      Thank you. Discussion to the bill. Senator Riebe.

  11. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:03:58

      Thank you Mr. Chair. I mean, thank you Mr. President. Um, has the sponsor yield to questions? Yes. Senator Balderree, will you yield?

  12. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:04:06

      I will. Senator Riebe.

  13. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:04:08

      Thank you. Um, when I look at line 51, it says three members of the Senate whom the president of the Senate appoints with at least one from each political party. So currently we have three political parties on the floor right now. Would that mean each party was represented?

  14. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:04:28

      Well, that is, I think that's an oversight. I think that wasn't, uh, considered when the bill was crafted. Thank you. I I love my new colleague here, but, uh, that would give her an overwhelming representation on a body of, um, of this commission.

  15. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:04:45

      On this commission. It looks like there's 15 members. Is there 15 members?

  16. Unknown speaker1:04:53speaker not certain

      Go ahead, Senator. It has, it has to be from a county of a certain class. And, uh, since I happen to know the county, which the good, uh, senator from the third party represents, that does not qualify.

  17. Senate President (presiding)1:05:07

      Senator Riebe.

  18. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:05:09

      Thank you. Uh, it says that there's gonna be 15 members on this mission. Senator, you pull the mic around. I know that, uh, you're, you're, you're working on your computer, but I wanna make sure this is on the on record. Okay. Thank you. Oh, is that better? Sorry. Uh, there's 15 members on this commission.

  19. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:05:24

      Senator Baldry. Uh, I would have, I would have to check 3 7, 9 1. I believe it is 15. I'll count for you.

  20. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:06:09

      So when we have 15 people on this board, we only have maybe two that have education experience in a classroom and the rest of them are political people. So a commission that's supposed to change how we're gonna teach in the classroom has no teachers on it and has one superintendent. Um, doesn't really seem like it would make good policy for how the classroom would work. So we have a school board that has 15 members on it and that struggles a lot sometimes to make a decision. And now we're gonna add another 15 commission with hardly any representation of teachers who are actually in the classroom. So this is a very big commission with lots of political pull but not a lot of representation from the classroom. I cannot support this.

  21. Senate President (presiding)1:07:02

      Thank you Senator Riebe. Looking for further discussion.

  22. Sen. Heidi Balderree1:07:09

      Senator Balderree. There is no further discussion. I'm going to use summation and a motion. Thank you. Uh, for summation, if the, just for those who care, I'm seeing 12, maybe 13. Um, if you look at the first amendment, or excuse me, amendment one. And, um, and if you look at line 60 to 65 on that amendment one, you'll see one member who's a director of a charter school. You'll see two members line 62, 2 members who currently employed as teachers in the state. And um, and then on line 65, 1 member who's a member of a local school board. Uh, and with that I'll conclude my presentation and make a motion that first substitute house bill 3, 3, 4, uh, as amended shall pass.

  23. Senate President (presiding)1:07:50

      Thank you. And the question is, under suspension, uh, under suspension of the rules shall first substitute house bill three thirty four pass roll call vote.

  24. Unknown speaker1:07:59speaker not certain

      Senator Vickers Baldry Aye. Lewin Brammer fuss. Colmore Escamia Fillmore Grover Harper Kins hips Ipson Ipson Johnson Juab McKay Mikel Milner Musselman Aye. No. Excuse me. No. Owens Milner Milner. No Pitcher. Senator Millner votes No. By listening. Senator Millner, you're a no. Yes, I'm a no. Senator Vickers plum. Rebe sandal Aye. Stevenson Stratton Vickers Musman A Weiler Wilson. Pastor Winterton bus Mikel Owens Wilson. President Adams, No.

  25. Senate President (presiding)1:09:30

      First substitute house Bill 3 34 Having received eight yay votes, 20 nay votes, one being absent, fails to pass and will be returned to the house for filing.