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# Day 28: Don't believe the hype
- URL: https://utahpolitics.news/day-28-dont-believe-the-hype/
- Published: 2025-02-19T00:49:26.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-29T14:55:26.000Z
- Author: Bryan Schott
- Tags: Legislature

Utah legislative leaders are expected to tout in the coming days that they're boosting public education funding for the 2025-26 school year by nearly a quarter billion dollars or more. However, it's important to understand how much of that increase is mandatory, and how much is discretionary.

Last December, legislative leaders approved a 4% increase in the weighted pupil unit (WPU), the formula determining how much the state spends per student in the public education system. Currently, Utah spends just under $4,500 per student.

The 4% increase, amounting to approximately $180 million, is required under state law to cover inflationary costs to public schools, calculated on a five-year rolling average. Lawmakers are also required to cover the cost of enrollment growth, which adds about $21 million.

Anything above the $200 million approved in December is discretionary.

The Public Education Appropriations subcommittee is recommending a discretionary increase to the WPU of just 1%, which amounts to $43 million.

In contrast, that same subcommittee has recommended increasing funding to Utah's private school voucher program by $40 million.

### New Bills that caught my attention

- [HB521](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0521.html?ref=utahpolitics.news) from Rep. Nicholeen Peck prohibits the use of public funds for "transgender medical treatments and procedures."

### Afternoon headlines

Senate committee OKs bill aimed at immigrants thought to be involved in organized crime. \[[KSL](https://www.ksl.com/article/51255914/senate-committee-oks-bill-aimed-at-immigrants-thought-to-be-involved-in-organized-crime?ref=utahpolitics.news)\]

Utah lawmaker moves to restrict transgender adults access to gender-affirming care. \[[Tribune](https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/02/18/utah-lawmaker-moves-restrict/?ref=utahpolitics.news)\]

Bill expanding Utah's free school lunch program advances past committee. \[[Fox 13](https://www.fox13now.com/news/politics/bill-expanding-utahs-free-school-lunch-program-advances-past-committee?ref=utahpolitics.news)\]

Utah bill would require cops to disclose AI-authored police reports. \[[Popular Science](https://www.popsci.com/technology/utah-ai-police-bill/?ref=utahpolitics.news)\]

Utah lawmakers work to ensure modesty, privacy for children in schools. \[[Deseret News](https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/02/18/student-privacy-modesty-bill/?ref=utahpolitics.news)\]

A new Utah bill would protect religious clubs at universities. \[[Deseret News](https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/02/18/religious-expression-in-higher-education/?ref=utahpolitics.news)\]

What state oversight is there for Utah's next Olympics? \[[Deseret News](https://www.deseret.com/utah/2025/02/18/olympics-2034-winter-games-utah-salt-lake-paris-last-supper-legislature-oversight/?ref=utahpolitics.news)\]

### What's on Wednesday's agenda?

**Morning committee meetings**

- [HB120](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0120.html?ref=utahpolitics.news), which keeps Utah on mountain standard time year-round until Congress allows Utah to switch to mountain daylight time permanently, is up in the Senate Business and Labor Committee.
- [HB84](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0084.html?ref=utahpolitics.news) from Rep. Trevor Lee mandates that any food that is used as a method for delivering a vaccine be labeled as a drug. The bill is set for debate in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

**Afternoon committee meetings**

- The House Education Committee will debate [HB402](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0402.html?ref=utahpolitics.news) from Rep. Kristen Chevrier that bans schools from serving food with certain food dyes in them.
- The House Education Committee will also consider [HB169](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0169.html?ref=utahpolitics.news) from Rep. Doug Welton that requires the State Board of Education to establish a code of conduct and ethical rules for members.
- [HB331](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0331.html?ref=utahpolitics.news) which establishes rules for the sale or transfer of one of Utah's Olympic facilities is scheduled for the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee.
- [SB142](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0142.html?ref=utahpolitics.news) which requires age verification for app store purchases from Sen. Todd Weiler is also on the House Economic Development committee.