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HB 426UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah establishes accountability mandates and teacher oversight rules for online and self-paced student learning programs

Original title: Online Education Service Provider Amendments

Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Neil Walter and 1 other

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

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What This Bill Does

Utah enacts HB 426 to require local education agencies offering self-paced or learner-validated education programs to assign a licensed , establish student pacing and progress requirements, and maintain specific student-to-teacher ratios starting May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

Local school districts and charter schools operating flexible or online programs must implement formal written policies, mandatory proctored assessments, and verified student-to-teacher staffing ratios to qualify for full state funding per student.

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 establish new written policies, assign teachers of record, track student pacing, and submit documentation of compliance to the state board.

Directly affected

Students in learner-validated programs

Students must meet academic proficiency standards, participate in instructional supports and assessments, and complete coursework through verified pacing checkpoints.

Directly affected

Educational service providers

Third-party entities contracted by LEAs must coordinate with LEAs and assigned teachers to support student progress and curriculum standards.

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 a learner-validated program under this law?
An educational program designed for competency-based or self-paced learning where student participation is measured by demonstrated academic progress and completion of learning objectives rather than attendance at scheduled instructional periods.
Who must be assigned to each student in a learner-validated program?
A , who must be a licensed educator employed by the local education agency with direct responsibility for the student's educational progress.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

43 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 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 37 earlier actions
  1. Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Mar 6, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  7. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  8. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  9. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  10. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  11. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  12. Mar 2, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  13. Feb 26, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  14. Feb 25, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  15. Feb 24, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  16. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  17. Feb 24, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  18. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  19. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  20. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  21. Feb 18, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  22. Feb 18, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  23. Feb 17, 2026House
    House Comm - Not Considered
  24. Feb 11, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0426S01
  25. Feb 11, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0426S01
  26. Feb 10, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0426S01
  27. Feb 10, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0426S01
  28. Feb 5, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  29. Feb 3, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  30. Feb 3, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0426
  31. Feb 3, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0426
  32. Jan 30, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  33. Jan 30, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  34. Jan 29, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0426
  35. Jan 29, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0426
  36. Jan 29, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  37. Jan 29, 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

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

Connected Entities

R. Neil Walter, John D. Johnson, State Board of Education
PersonR. Neil Walter“Chief Sponsor of HB 426”Map →
PersonJohn D. Johnson“Senate Sponsor of HB 426”Map →
OrganizationState Board of Education“Assigned oversight and enforcement authority under the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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