Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah SB131: Charter School Eligibility
Status: Signed into law, March 19, 2026
This bill enacts a provision relating to charter school enrollment preferences.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 7, 2026:
0 Charter School Eligibility 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Heidi Balderree House Sponsor: R. Neil Walter LONG TITLE General Description: This bill enacts a provision relating to charter school enrollment preferences. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - expands charter school enrollment preference to certain students within the boundaries of a political subdivision; and - makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: This bill provides a special effective date. Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 53G-6-502 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 438 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 53G-6-502 is amended to read: 53G-6-502 . Eligible students. (1) As used in this section: (a) "At capacity" means operating above the school's open enrollment threshold. (b) "COVID-19 emergency" means the spread of COVID-19 that the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. (c) (b) "Open enrollment threshold" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-6-401 . (d) (c) "Refugee" means a person who is eligible to receive benefits and services from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. (e) (d) "School of residence" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-6-401 . (2) All resident students of the state qualify for admission to …
Sponsors
- Heidi Balderree (R, 22) · primary sponsor
- Walter, R. Neil (R, 74)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : Senate/ to Governor
- : Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- : Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- : Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- : Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- : Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- : Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- : Senate/ received from House
- : House/ to Senate
Votes
- Senate/ concurs with House amendment (February 27, 2026): 19 yea, 5 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 26, 2026): 49 yea, 11 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 20, 2026): 10 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Comm - Amendment Recommendation (February 20, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 3rd reading (February 10, 2026): 22 yea, 3 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 2nd reading (February 9, 2026): 24 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Education, Charter Schools, K-12 Education, Political Subdivisions (Local Issues)
Common questions
- What is SB131?
- SB131 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Charter School Eligibility.
- What does SB131 do?
- This bill enacts a provision relating to charter school enrollment preferences.
- What is the status of SB131?
- Signed into law as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (March 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB131?
- Heidi Balderree (R, 22), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB131?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0131.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.