Utah Senate approves substituted higher-education data privacy measure after procedural reconsideration

The Utah Senate on day 37 passed the first substitute to Senate Bill 2 26, titled "Higher Education Data Privacy and Governance Revisions," after a series of procedural moves that included substitution, suspension of the three‑reading requirement and a formal motion to reconsider.

Senator Anderegg, speaking for the bill's sponsors, said the first substitute reflected a negotiated compromise reached after committee work and meetings with stakeholders. "What you see in the first substitute is the compromise bill that has gotten everybody on the same page," he said, describing provisions to institute oversight and security for individual student information at the higher‑education level while allowing narrowly scoped research access through memoranda of understanding.

Senators debated the procedure used to adopt the substituted language. After the first substitute was adopted under suspension of the rules, Senator Anderegg later moved to reconsider the action and to suspend the constitutional three‑reading requirement; the motion to suspend the three‑reading requirement passed. President Adams noted the chamber might recall the bill later to ensure procedural requirements were satisfied.

The Senate recorded a final vote of 26 yeas, 0 nays and 3 absent on the first substitute to SB 2 26. The measure will be transmitted to the House for further consideration.

Supporters framed the bill as restoring narrowly defined research uses for higher education while strengthening oversight. Senator Anderegg said the compromise includes integration with the State Auditor's oversight for auditing and security steps to protect student data. He told the Senate that committee concerns had been resolved before the floor action.

Opponents or specific dissenting floor statements were not recorded in the transcript excerpt. The President cautioned the body that the bill might be recalled to verify compliance with procedural rules.

Next steps: the substitute will be sent to the House; President Adams indicated staff will confirm whether additional procedural steps or recalls are necessary before final enactment.