Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB524: Public Education Financial Officers
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill amends provisions regarding state and local financial officers in the public education system.
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 9, 2026:
0 Public Education Financial Officers 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: R. Neil Walter Senate Sponsor: LONG TITLE General Description: This bill amends provisions regarding state and local financial officers in the public education system. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - provides that a school district business administrator: - is an at-will employee; and - reports directly to the school district superintendent; - provides that the Deputy Superintendent of Operations reports directly to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction; and - makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 53E-3-301 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 277 53G-4-302 , as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 3 53G-4-303 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 293 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 53E-3-301 is amended to read: 53E-3-301 . Appointment -- Qualifications -- Duties. (1) (a) The state board shall appoint a state superintendent of public instruction, who is the executive officer of the state board and serves at the pleasure of the state board. (b) The state board shall appoint the state superintendent on the basis of outstanding professional qualifications. (c) The state superintendent shall administer all programs …
Sponsors
- Walter, R. Neil (R, 74) · primary sponsor
- Heidi Balderree (R, 22)
Latest actions
- : House/ filed
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
- : Senate/ strike enacting clause
- : Senate/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules
- : Senate Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
- : Senate Comm - Motion to Recommend Failed
- : Senate/ to standing committee
- : Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- : Senate/ received from House
Votes
- Senate Comm - Motion to Recommend Failed (March 2, 2026): 1 yea, 2 nay, failed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 24, 2026): 58 yea, 9 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 18, 2026): 9 yea, 2 nay, passed
- House Comm - Amendment Recommendation (February 18, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: School Finance, State Board of Education, Education, K-12 Education, School Districts
Common questions
- What is HB524?
- HB524 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Public Education Financial Officers.
- What does HB524 do?
- This bill amends provisions regarding state and local financial officers in the public education system.
- What is the status of HB524?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: House/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB524?
- Walter, R. Neil (R, 74), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB524?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0524.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.