POLISCOPE
Back to bills
Part ofEducation →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.
SB 34UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah Replaces Catalyst Center Program and Updates School Safety and Student Reintegration Rules

Original title: Public Education Revisions

Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: John Johnson and 2 others

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

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

This bill renames the Catalyst Center Grant Program to the Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program, updates school safety personnel and needs assessment requirements, and establishes student reintegration procedures for violent or weapons offenses, effective May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

Local education agencies must update their career and technical education grant applications, comply with revised school safety assessment timelines involving county and state security chiefs, and follow new mandates when developing reintegration plans for students accused of serious offenses.

Background
  • The State Board of Education serves as the governing board for public education and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. context
  • Legislative revisions to public education codes regularly update operational programs, restricted accounts, and campus safety mandates. 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

Local education agencies

Local education agencies must comply with updated school safety assessments, appoint specific safety specialists and directors, and administer new student reintegration procedures.

Directly affected

Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

The institution's superintendent appointment process, campus security coordination, and governance references are updated under the measure.

Directly affected

Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals participating in the Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program have updated allowable uses of funds and eligibility guidelines.

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

What happens to the Catalyst Center Grant Program under this bill?
The bill renames the Catalyst Center Grant Program to the Applied Professional Education Experience Grant Program and updates its eligibility requirements and use of funds.
What is required before a student accused of a violent felony can return to school?
The and relevant school must develop a reintegration plan with a , the student, and the student's parent within five school days after receiving notification from the court or law enforcement.
Who appoints the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind?
The state superintendent of public instruction appoints and supervises the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, subject to the approval of the State Board of Education.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

77 actions
  1. Mar 19, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to Governor
  3. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 11, 2026Senate Secretary
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 71 earlier actions
  1. Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
  2. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  4. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  5. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
  6. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  7. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  8. Mar 6, 2026House Speaker
    Senate Conference Committee - Final Passage
  9. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
  10. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  11. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  12. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    House Conference Committee - Final Passage
  13. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
  14. Mar 6, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0034S04
  15. Mar 6, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0034S04
  16. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    Conference Committee Report
  17. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    Bill Substituted by Conference Committee
  18. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0034S04
  19. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0034S04
  20. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  21. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    House Conference Committee Appointed
  22. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ refused to recede from House amendment
  23. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  24. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments
  25. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  26. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  27. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  28. Mar 5, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  29. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  30. Mar 2, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  31. Mar 2, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended
  32. Feb 27, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  33. Feb 27, 2026House
    House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  34. Feb 27, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  35. Feb 26, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0034S03
  36. Feb 26, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0034S03
  37. Feb 25, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  38. Feb 24, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0034S03
  39. Feb 24, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0034S03
  40. Feb 24, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  41. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  42. Feb 24, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  43. Feb 24, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 3rd reading
  44. Feb 24, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  45. Feb 23, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  46. Feb 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ uncircled
  47. Feb 6, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0034S02
  48. Feb 6, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0034S02
  49. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ circled
  50. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ substituted
  51. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  52. Feb 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0034S02
  53. Feb 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0034S02
  54. Jan 28, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0034S01
  55. Jan 28, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0034S01
  56. Jan 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  57. Jan 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
  58. Jan 26, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  59. Jan 26, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  60. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0034S01
  61. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0034S01
  62. Jan 20, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  63. Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  64. Jan 12, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  65. Jan 7, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research
  66. Dec 26, 2025Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0034
  67. Dec 26, 2025Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0034
  68. Dec 19, 2025Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0034
  69. Dec 19, 2025Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0034
  70. Dec 19, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  71. Dec 19, 2025Legislative 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.

View official text →

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

John JohnsonSenate · District 3RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Neil WalterHouse · District 74RepublicanCosponsor
Neil WalterHouse · District 74RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Restructuring of Educational Grant Programs and Safety Mandates

The legislation systematically renames the Catalyst Center program, integrates specialized education experience frameworks, and formalizes multi-agency protocols for school safety and student reintegration.

State Board of EducationUtah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

Connected Entities

Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, R. Neil Walter, John D. Johnson and 5 more
OrganizationDivision of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services“Participates in student reintegration multidisciplinary teams”Map →
PersonR. Neil Walter“House Sponsor of SB 34”Map →
PersonJohn D. Johnson“Chief Sponsor of SB 34”Map →
OrganizationState Board of Education“Governing board of the public education system and USDB”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Workforce Services“Collaborates on credential oversight committees”Map →
OrganizationUtah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind“State educational institution for deaf and blind students”Map →
OrganizationSchool Safety Center“Receives school safety needs assessments and assists with training”Map →
OrganizationOffice of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst“Evaluates revenue and appropriations for restricted accounts”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance80
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record