Bill > HB0462

This bill establishes a grant program to provide internet connectivity on school buses for rural school districts in Utah, defining "eligible schools" as those in fourth, fifth, or sixth-class counties or with fewer than 3,000 students, and "rural school districts" as those operating such schools. The State Board of Education will distribute grant money, subject to legislative appropriations, to help these districts install and operate internet systems on their buses, with preference given to districts that don't currently have this technology. While the grant aims to cover the cost of retrofitting two buses and providing one year of internet service, districts can use their own funds to expand this to more buses or longer service periods, and any remaining grant money can be used for additional retrofits or service years. Recipients must maintain the systems for at least three years, use approved internet providers, adhere to school content filtering policies, and coordinate with the Utah Education and Telehealth Network where applicable, with the possibility of repaying the grant if these conditions aren't met. The bill also includes a specific appropriation of $325,000 for this program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and takes effect on that date.

Education

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0462.html