HB 462

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 462
1School Bus Internet Access
                                      2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                            STATE OF UTAH
                                     Chief Sponsor: Tiara Auxier
                                   Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill creates a grant program to provide internet connectivity on school buses in rural
6  school districts.
7  Highlighted Provisions:
8      This bill:
9      ▸ defines terms;
10      ▸ creates a grant program for rural school districts to install and operate internet
11  connectivity systems on school buses;
12      ▸ establishes priority criteria for awarding grants;
13      ▸ allows districts to combine grant money with district funds;
14      ▸ requires grant recipients to commit to long-term operation of internet connectivity
15  systems; and
16      ▸ requires the State Board of Education to make rules for grant administration.
17  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18      This bill appropriates $325,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027, all of
19  which is from the various sources as detailed in this bill.
20  Other Special Clauses:
21      This bill provides a special effective date.
22  Utah Code Sections Affected:
23  ENACTS:
24      53F-2-402.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25
26  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27Section 1. Section 53F-2-402.5 is enacted to read:
H.B. 462  Enrolled Copy
2853F-2-402.5 . Rural school district transportation grants.
29   (1) As used in this section:
30(a) "Eligible school" means a public school within a school district:
31(i) located in a county of the fourth, fifth, or sixth class, as defined in Section
3217-50-501; or
33(ii) with fewer than 3,000 students enrolled in the school district.
34(b) "Rural school district" means a school district that operates one or more eligible
35schools.
36   (2) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall distribute grant money to rural
37school districts to install and operate internet connectivity systems on school buses.
38   (3) A rural school district may apply to the state board for a grant under this section.
39   (4) The state board may award a grant to a rural school district that:
40(a) submits an application in accordance with state board rule; and
41(b) agrees to the requirements in Subsection (7).
42   (5) In awarding grants under this section, the state board shall give preference to rural
43school districts that do not currently have internet connectivity systems on school buses.
44   (6) Notwithstanding Subsection (5):
45(a) subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall ensure each eligible rural
46school district receives funding for at least two school buses; and
47(b) the state board may not award a grant to a district in an amount that exceeds the total
48cost to:
49(i) retrofit two school buses with internet connectivity systems; and
50(ii) pay for internet connectivity services for two school buses for one year.
51   (7) A rural school district that receives a grant under this section shall:
52(a) use grant money to:
53(i) retrofit school buses with internet connectivity systems; and
54(ii) provide internet access through a terrestrial wireless provider or a satellite
55internet service provider;
56(b) assume responsibility for the cost of internet connectivity services after the grant
57money for services described in Subsection (7)(a)(ii) is expended;
58(c) maintain internet connectivity systems and services on the retrofitted school buses
59for at least three years after receiving the grant;
60(d) where applicable, coordinate with the Utah Education and Telehealth Network in the
61implementation and operation of internet connectivity systems;
                                                  -2-
Enrolled Copy  H.B. 462
62      (e) ensure that internet connectivity provided on school buses under this section
63complies with the same content filtering and internet safety policies that apply to
64internet access in the district's school buildings; and
65      (f) comply with reporting requirements established by the state board in rule under
66Subsection (10).
67  (8) A rural school district may:
68      (a) use grant money awarded under this section in combination with the district's own
69funds to:
70(i) retrofit more than two school buses with internet connectivity systems; or
71(ii) pay for more than one year of internet connectivity services for school buses; and
72      (b) if the cost of internet connectivity systems and services is less than the grant award
73amount, use remaining grant funds to:
74(i) retrofit additional school buses with internet connectivity systems; or
75(ii) pay for additional years of internet connectivity services.
76  (9) If a grant recipient fails to maintain internet connectivity systems and services for the
77      three-year period required under Subsection (7)(c), the state board may require the
78      district to repay all or a portion of the grant money.
79  (10) The state board shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
80      Administrative Rulemaking Act, to implement this section, including rules that establish:
81      (a) the grant application process and timeline;
82      (b) required elements of a grant application;
83      (c) a methodology for determining:
84(i) the total cost to retrofit two school buses with internet connectivity systems; and
85(ii) the annual cost for internet connectivity services for two school buses for one
86year for purposes of the cap described in Subsection (6)(b); and
87      (d) reporting requirements for grant recipients.
88Section 2. FY 2027 Appropriations.
89The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
90  2026, and ending June 30, 2027. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
91  fiscal year 2027.
92Subsection 2(a). Operating and Capital Budgets
93Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
94  Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
95  the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
                                                -3-
 H.B. 462  Enrolled Copy
96   ITEM 1      To State Board of Education - Contracted Initiatives and Grants
97From Public Education Economic Stabilization
98Restricted Account, One-time  325,000
99Schedule of Programs:
100Contracts and Grants  325,000
101Section 3. Effective Date.
102   This bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
                                                -4-