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HB 194UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah establishes ethics standards, independent commission, and disciplinary procedures for State Board of Education members

Original title: Utah State Board of Education Ethics Amendments

Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Sahara Hayes and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

This bill establishes a formal code of official conduct, conflict of interest disclosure rules, annual ethics training, and an independent ethics commission to review complaints against members of the State Board of Education, taking effect on May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

Elected board members face explicit behavioral standards, mandatory conflict disclosures, and potential disciplinary actions including public censure or removal recommendations, while the board covers legal fees if allegations are dismissed.

Background
  • The State Board of Education consists of elected part-time members who oversee public education in Utah. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

State Board of Education members

State Board of Education members are subject to a new statutory code of conduct, conflict of interest disclosure rules, annual ethics training, and potential ethics complaint investigations and disciplinary actions.

Directly affected

Utah registered voters

Registered voters meeting specific criteria are granted the authority to file formal ethics complaints against members of the State Board of Education.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can file an ethics complaint against a State Board of Education member?
Complaints may be filed by two or more members of the board with admissible evidence or sworn testimony, or by two or more registered Utah voters where at least one voter has personal knowledge of the facts supporting the alleged violation.
Can the State Board of Education remove an elected board member from office?
No, the board cannot remove an elected board member. Only the Legislature may remove a member through impeachment proceedings.
Who pays for a board member's attorney fees if an ethics complaint is filed against them?
The board pays the reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred by a board member if the commission declines to recommend review or if the board determines none of the recommended allegations have been proved.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

47 actions
  1. Mar 19, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 16, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 16, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 12, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 11, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 41 earlier actions
  1. Mar 11, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Mar 11, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 11, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  7. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  8. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ concurs with Senate amendment
  9. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  10. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  11. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House with amendments
  12. Mar 6, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  13. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  14. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  15. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  16. Feb 27, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0194
  17. Feb 26, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0194
  18. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  19. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ amended
  20. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  21. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  22. Feb 20, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  23. Feb 19, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  24. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  25. Feb 18, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  26. Feb 18, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  27. Feb 18, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  28. Feb 10, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  29. Feb 10, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ amended
  30. Feb 9, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  31. Feb 9, 2026House
    House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  32. Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  33. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  34. Jan 20, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  35. Jan 17, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0194
  36. Jan 17, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0194
  37. Jan 14, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  38. Jan 8, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0194
  39. Jan 8, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0194
  40. Jan 8, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  41. Jan 8, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Sahara HayesHouse · District 32DemocraticPrimary sponsor
John JohnsonSenate · District 3RepublicanCosponsor

Connected Entities

John D. Johnson, State Board of Education, Sahara Hayes
PersonJohn D. Johnson“Senate sponsor of the bill.”Map →
OrganizationState Board of Education“The state board subject to the ethics standards and review procedures.”Map →
PersonSahara Hayes“Chief sponsor of the bill in the lower house.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy25
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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