HB 170: Expanding Public Oversight of Local School Board Actions

Local school boards make important decisions that affect families, taxpayers, and students across Utah. But when voters believe those decisions deserve a broader public say, especially on issues like taxes or major policy changes, the rules for how a community can respond haven’t always been clear or consistent.

House Bill 170 by Rep. Rex Shipp fixes that.

This bill clarifies and streamlines the process for voters within a school district to use a referendum to weigh in on certain school board actions. By cleaning up definitions and aligning procedures in state law, HB 170 removes confusion about how and when a referendum can be used, giving both citizens and school districts a shared understanding of the rules.

At its core, this legislation strengthens transparency and accountability in local education governance—helping ensure decisions that affect families and taxpayers are made with clarity, trust, and public confidence.