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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah Expands Charter School Enrollment Preferences for Local Residents
Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Heidi Balderree and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Utah law now allows charter schools to grant enrollment preference to students living within the boundaries of a where the school is located, provided their local neighborhood school is . The measure takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Families seeking alternative public school options gain an additional pathway for enrollment when their local district schools are overcrowded, broadening access within specific municipal or county boundaries.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
charter school applicants
Students residing within a political subdivision containing a charter school gain an additional basis for receiving enrollment preference if their local school is at capacity.
charter schools
Charter schools are newly authorized to establish enrollment preferences based on political subdivision boundaries.
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 is eligible for the new charter school enrollment preference?
When does this change take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
44 actions- Mar 19, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 11, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 11, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 7, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 7, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 3, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 38 earlier actions
- Mar 3, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 27, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 27, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Feb 27, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 26, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 20, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 20, 2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ amended
- Feb 20, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 20, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Amendment Recommendation
- Feb 13, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 10, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 10, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 10, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 10, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 10, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 9, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Feb 9, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Jan 27, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 27, 2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
- Jan 26, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Jan 21, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 19, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 17, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0131
- Jan 17, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0131
- Jan 14, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0131
- Jan 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0131
- Jan 13, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 13, 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 →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- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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