Senate adopts conference report and passes substitute bill on public school instructional materials

The Utah Senate on Feb. 27 adopted a conference committee report and passed first substitute Senate Bill 55, a measure on public school instructional material requirements.

Senator Fillmore, sponsor of the conference committee report, said the panel restored language from the original bill but created an exemption for informational classroom updates on current events. The Senate adopted the conference committee report by voice and then approved the substitute bill on third reading.

Under a roll call, the chamber recorded 21 yea votes, 0 nay votes and 8 absences; the measure will be returned to the House for the speaker's signature. Senate leaders noted the House had already taken action on the matter before transmittal.

The adoption followed a formal communication from the House that the joint conference committee recommended the substitute. Following passage, Senator Owens invited students and their teacher from Panguitch Middle School in the gallery to be recognized by the Senate.

The Senate placed the bill at the top of the third-reading calendar before final passage; procedural questions about calendar placement were raised and resolved on the floor. The chamber then continued with other second- and third-reading business.