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HB 279UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah integrates private postsecondary institutions into existing higher education codes and regulatory frameworks

Original title: Higher Education Code Amendments

Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Val Peterson and 1 other

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

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What This Bill Does

This bill explicitly includes s across multiple sections of the Utah Code, subjecting them to and incorporating them within existing frameworks for higher education, STEM programs, law enforcement assistance, property damage enhancement rules, student interference statutes, and geological surveys. The changes take effect on May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

Expands the legal scope of various state education, safety, and procurement statutes to formally encompass private colleges and universities alongside public institutions, affecting their regulatory obligations, eligibility for state-coordinated programs, and legal protections.

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

Private postsecondary educational institutions

They are newly included in various statutory provisions covering STEM programs, campus security assistance, procurement rules, and state agency support.

Directly affected

Highway Patrol

Their authority and duty to assist with campus unrest upon request is explicitly extended to private postsecondary educational institution facilities.

Directly affected

STEM Action Center

Their board duties and grant program coordination now formally encompass private postsecondary educational institutions.

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 primary purpose of HB 279?
The bill updates multiple sections of the Utah Code to explicitly include s in laws and programs that previously applied primarily to public institutions of higher education.
When do these statutory changes take effect?
All amendments made by this bill take effect on May 6, 2026.
Are private colleges now eligible to participate in STEM and computer science grants?
Yes, the amendments allow s to participate as partners in computer science grant applications and coordinate with the STEM Action Center.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

58 actions
  1. Mar 19, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Feb 26, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Feb 25, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 52 earlier actions
  1. Feb 25, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Feb 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Feb 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Feb 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  7. Feb 20, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  8. Feb 20, 2026House
    House/ concurs with Senate amendment
  9. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  10. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  11. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House with amendments
  12. Feb 19, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 3rd reading
  13. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Senate/ uncircled
  14. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Senate/ circled
  15. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  16. Feb 18, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  17. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Senate/ uncircled
  18. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Senate/ circled
  19. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  20. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  21. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ amended
  22. Feb 12, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  23. Feb 12, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  24. Feb 9, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  25. Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  26. Feb 6, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0279S02
  27. Feb 6, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0279S02
  28. Feb 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  29. Feb 5, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  30. Feb 5, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  31. Feb 5, 2026House
    House/ substituted
  32. Feb 5, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  33. Feb 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0279S02
  34. Feb 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0279S02
  35. Jan 28, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0279S01
  36. Jan 28, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0279S01
  37. Jan 28, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  38. Jan 28, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  39. Jan 27, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  40. Jan 27, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  41. Jan 27, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0279S01
  42. Jan 27, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0279S01
  43. Jan 23, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  44. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  45. Jan 20, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  46. Jan 20, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  47. Jan 19, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0279
  48. Jan 19, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0279
  49. Jan 16, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0279
  50. Jan 16, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0279
  51. Jan 16, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  52. Jan 16, 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.

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

Val PetersonHouse · District 56RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Ann MillnerSenate · District 5RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift95% confidence

Broad Integration of Private Higher Education

The bill systematically inserts private postsecondary institutions into numerous unrelated statutory chapters, spanning STEM education, criminal offenses, state police duties, and natural resource surveys.

STEM Action CenterHighway Patrol

Connected Entities

State Board of Education, Ann Millner, Val L. Peterson and 2 more
OrganizationState Board of Education“Collaborates on computer science initiatives and professional development standa”Map →
PersonAnn Millner“Senate Sponsor of HB 279”Map →
PersonVal L. Peterson“Chief Sponsor of HB 279 in the lower house”Map →
OrganizationSTEM Action Center“Coordinates STEM activities and grants affected by the code amendments”Map →
OrganizationHighway Patrol“Assists with campus unrest conditions at private and public institutions”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance45
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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