Committee advances bill that would give lawmakers input in search for new state superintendent
Feb 21, 2025, 2:05 PM
The Utah State Board of Education is pictured in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah House committee unanimously passed a bill Friday that seeks to give lawmakers and other education stakeholders a voice in the search for a new state superintendent of public instruction.
The first vote on the bill comes just over a month since the current state superintendent announced her plans to step down this summer.
HB156, sponsored by Rep. Norman Thurston, R-Provo, would require the Utah State Board of Education to consult with an advisory committee, which would include lawmakers and other stakeholders, when searching for a new state superintendent.
A spokesperson for the state board told KSL NewsRadio the board does not have an official stance on the bill at this time, but they were able to meet and speak with Thurston in their 2025 legislative meeting Thursday.
During that meeting, Board Member Carol Lear expressed concern over the bill’s constitutionality, since under the state constitution, the board, “shall appoint a state superintendent of public instruction, who is the executive officer of the state board and serves at the pleasure of the state board.”
But, Thurston clarified that the decision is still theirs alone, even if that means ignoring the advice of the advisory committee completely.
“This is just… you have the advisory committee, they give you their opinion, and you can ignore it,” Thurston said. “You can do whatever you want, but we think it’s important that the state board at least have some input from stakeholders as part of the process.”
The bill also requires the board to set up a 3-year contract with new state superintendents, but they have control over the terms of that contract.
The bill has been sent to the full House for consideration. It still needs approval there and in the Senate to reach the governor’s desk.
If the governor signs it, the law would go into effect in May, which means the advisory committee could be established while the board searches for a replacement for current state superintendent Dr. Sydnee Dickson, who plans to step down from her post at the end of June.
