S.B. 94 Inmate Financial Literacy Amendments

What this bill does

S.B. 94 would direct the Department of Corrections to offer an optional financial literacy class to inmates, alongside other classes offered at prisons. The class is meant to help inmates prepare for reentry into the community after release.

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Every vote

• 5 yes, 0 no, 4 absentSenate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 27, 2026Who voted how
• 23 yes, 0 no, 6 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 13, 2026Who voted how
• 24 yes, 0 no, 5 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Jan 27, 2026 Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (11 turns)

  1. Committee chair1:29:44

     Okay. Uh, we'll now hear from Senator Weiler on Senate Bill 94 Inmate Financial Literacy Amendments by Senator Pitcher.

  2. Sen. Todd Weiler1:29:53

     Yeah, thank you. So we did change the rules a couple of years ago, so any senator can designate another senator, um, to present for them in a Senate committee, which is kind of nice. So Senator Pitcher couldn't be here today. She had a conflict involving her children. So I said, do you wanna designate me to present your bill? And she said I would. And so this is a bill I think we all voted for last year. Um, and it just didn't get through the house all the way, but it wasn't because of opposition, it would provide for financial literacy education for incarcerated individuals at the Utah State Prison. Research shows that teaching basic money management reduces, um, recidivism and helps avoid probation violations related to unpaid fees, fines, and unstable housing. I think it has a, a fiscal note of about $13,000. And that concludes my presentation, Clarifying questions, And I'll turn it now over to the committee for any clarifying questions or discussion to the bill.

  3. Committee chair1:30:54

     Seeing none, we will open it to the public or online. Do we have anyone online? Do we have anyone in the audience? Yes. Mr. Moffitt, if you'd like to come up, please, please state your name and who you're with.

  4. Mark Moffitt, Defense Lawyers Association1:31:14

     Hi, uh, mark Moffitt. I'm here on behalf of the Defense Lawyers Association. Um, it, I, we're here to support this bill. Um, and one of the reasons being is that when inmates are sent to prison, um, they have a number of financial obligations that they're expected to fulfill with respect to. And Senator Weiler mentioned these fines, fees, there can be restitution. Um, and then on top of that, they have to get a job and they have to try to support themselves. And so this financial literacy is going to help them, um, once they get out, when they get a job and when they can so that they can start to manage their money. And so we don't wanna see these people, um, get into trouble for not paying fines and fees and being sent back to prison. So we think this is very helpful. We would urge your support. Thank you.

  5. Committee chair1:31:57

     Thank you. Thank you. Are there any others? Okay, now we'll come back to the Committee for Action.

  6. Sen. Todd Weiler1:32:06

     Um, I like to make a motion and speak in favor of that. So I think this is a really good bill. Uh, some people unfortunately have to spend some time, uh, behind bars and they can spend that time watching TV or playing cards or knitting. I would much rather them spend that time improving themselves, improving their financial literacy, improving a lot of things. And so, um, I I do think, um, that if somebody comes out more financially literate than they went in, that that's good for them. But all but even better, it's good for all the community. And so I think this is a great idea, uh, from Senator Pitcher and I'm glad she brought the bill. So I'd like to move that we favorably recommend it.

  7. Committee chair1:32:43

     Okay. And the motion is to favorably recommend Senate Bill 94 inmate financial literacy amendments to the full body of the Senate. Is there any discussion to that motion from the committee? Seeing none, uh, back to the sponsor.

  8. Sen. Todd Weiler1:32:59

     I'll waive And we'll, um, oh yeah.

  9. Committee chair1:33:03

     And you are the motion makers. So, uh, well I guess this is where we vote. All those in favor of recommending Senate bill 94 to the full body of the Senate?

  10. Unknown speaker1:33:12speaker not certain

      Uh, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed?

  11. Committee chair1:33:16

      The chair rules that that passes unanimously and that would be five to zero. Thank you. Do you have any other further

• Feb 13, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (9 turns)

  1. Presiding officer1:09:08

     Senator Pitcher.

  2. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher1:09:10

     Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this bill would have the Department of Corrections would direct them to offer an optional financial literacy class to inmates. Um, this would be among other classes that are offered at the prison, but doing so would help, uh, better situate these individuals for eventual reintegration. Happy to answer any questions.

  3. Presiding officer1:09:28

     Senator, thank you for the presentation. Looking for questions, saying none. Going to you for summation and a motion.

  4. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher1:09:35

     Thank you. I'd move that Senate Bill 94. Be read for a third time.

  5. Presiding officer1:09:38

     Thank you. And the question is, shall Senate bill 94 be read a third time? Roll call vote.

  6. Unknown speaker1:09:42speaker not certain

     Senator Vickers Baldry Lewin Bramer Bus Colmore Escamilla Fillmore Aye. Grover Harper Kins Ipson Johnson Juab McKay Mikel Milner Musselman. Owen Owens Aye. Pitcher Plum Rebi Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers Weiler Wilson Winterton. President Adams Aye. Senate Bill 94 Having received 22 Y, excuse me, Senate bill 94, having received 23 yay votes. Zero nay votes. Six being absent shall be read a third times Senate bill first substitute.

  7. Presiding officer1:10:55

     Senator Harper, do you have a personal

  8. Sen. Sahara Hayes1:10:57speaker not certain

     No. What

  9. Presiding officer1:10:58

     next? Bill? I think Senator Fillmore you up for the next bill. Yep.

• Feb 17, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (8 turns)

  1. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher58:24

     corrections providing an optional financial liter literacy class for inmates. I believe this will help in their eventual reintegration back into the community. Happy to answer any questions.

  2. Presiding officer58:34

     Thank you for that presentation. As their discussion to this bill. Senator Weiler,

  3. Sen. Todd Weiler58:40

     This is a, a great bill. I think while our inmates have a lot of, uh, time on their hands, some of them it's good to give them some tools that, that, um, that they can use to be successful when they're released. I know a decade ago when we were talking about the prison, uh, relocation, I was surprised to learn that 97% of our state inmates will eventually be released back into our communities. So I think this is one of the tools that can help them to be more successful. So I'll be voting. Aye. Thank you.

  4. Presiding officer59:09

     Thank you. Further discussion to the bill. Seeing none. Back to you. Senator Pitcher picture for motion.

  5. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher59:15

     Thank you. I move that Senate Bill 94 pass

  6. Presiding officer59:18

     And the question is, shall Senate bill 94 pass will call vote

  7. Senate clerk59:21

     Senator Spry Aye. Lewin Aye. Brammer Aye. Bus a Cullimore Escamia Fillmore Aye. Grover Aye. Harper Aye. Kins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson Aye. Juab McKay Mikel Milner Musman Owens pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Bickers Weiler Wilson Aye. Winterton President Adams

  8. Presiding officer1:00:08

     Senate Bill 94 Having received 24 yay votes of zero na votes, five being absent passes, the Senate will be sent to the house for further consideration.