The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Utah creates five-year alternative statewide testing pilot program for local education agencies
Last action · March 6, 2026: House/ filedSponsors: Karianne Lisonbee and 1 other
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
This bill creates the five-year Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program starting July 1, 2026, allowing participating school districts and charter schools to administer an alternative computer-adaptive, instead of the standard end-of-year summative assessment. The measure sets caps on participating student enrollment percentages and requires local education agencies to report assessment results to parents and the state board.
Participating school districts and charter schools gain the flexibility to use alternative student assessments while bearing the costs of test administration and meeting strict reporting deadlines for parents and the state board.
- The Education Interim Committee is a legislative committee that reviews public education programs and receives periodic reports from the State Board of Education. context
- The State Board of Education provides leadership and supervision for the Utah public education system. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
school districts
School districts may apply to participate in the pilot program, must fund alternative test administration from their budgets if accepted, and must meet specific data reporting requirements.
charter schools
Charter schools are eligible to participate in the pilot program subject to enrollment caps and must administer alternative assessments and report results if they participate.
State Board of Education
The state board must qualify assessment providers through procurement, establish conversion methodologies for scores, enforce program limits, and report annually to the Education Interim Committee.
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 is the Alternative Statewide Testing Pilot Program?
Who pays for the alternative assessment in participating schools?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the House floor.
Procedural history
25 actions- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ filed
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ strike enacting clause
- Feb 11, 2026HouseHouse/ filed
- Feb 11, 2026HouseHouse/ failed
- Feb 11, 2026HouseHouse/ uncircled
- Feb 10, 2026HouseHouse/ circled
Show 19 earlier actions
- Feb 10, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 2, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 2, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Jan 30, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Jan 29, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Jan 29, 2026House Rules CommitteeBill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm
- Jan 28, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0234S01
- Jan 28, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0234S01
- Jan 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0234S01
- Jan 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0234S01
- Jan 22, 2026HouseHouse/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 22, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0234
- Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 17, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0234
- Jan 14, 2026HouseHouse/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 12, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0234
- Jan 12, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0234
- Jan 12, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 12, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselBill 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 →Voting Record
House/ failed
Total
75
- Yes
- 32
- No
- 42
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 1
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (72)
48 more members
Show 1 earlier roll call
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Total
15
- Yes
- 8
- No
- 6
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 1
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (15)
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
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools