Committee tables bill seeking to change transfer rules for high school athletics

SALT LAKE CITY — For the second time this week, legislation aimed at changing some of the rules governing Utah high school sports was tabled after a hearing where everyone hoping to address lawmakers was opposed to the bill.

Wednesday it was SB271 — a bill that would have shifted most of the rule-making and enforcement from the private nonprofit Utah High School Activities Association to the State Board of Education — that was met with resounding opposition. That bill was held after a 4-1 vote, and that means it could come back to the committee.

Friday, it was HB360 — a bill seeking to change the state's transfer rules for athletes, give a more liberal bullying exception to those changing schools, and forbid high school student athletes from earning money through any kind of name, image and likeness agreements.

But the bill's sponsor, Rep. Jon Hawkins, R-Pleasant Grove, who is the chairman of the House Economic Development Workforce Services Committee that heard the bill, claimed he introduced the bill knowing that it wouldn't succeed.

"Sometimes we bring bills up to start a conversation," Hawkins said. "And this is for me, this is one of those times I knew the bill wasn't going to pass. … When you start the conversation, then good things start to happen."

Hawkins introduced an amended version of the bill right as the hearing began. About 50 people — including coaches, parents, principals, superintendents and staff of the Utah High School Activities Association — showed up to oppose the bill. No one spoke in favor of it, although two committee members said the current transfer rules were unfair and need to change.

Rep. Paul Cutler, R-Centerville, drew audible displeasure when he cut comments off after just 10 minutes. He said the committee understood the opposition and had all received emails and phone calls opposing the legislation. Rep. David Shallenberger, R-Orem, moved to table the bill, which Hawkins turned and told the audience would essentially kill it.

"We've heard from the public on this bill," Hawkins said. "I've only ever seen one other motion, in my eight years, to table a bill. So if that's what the committee would like to do, then, you know, I'll submit to the committee's vote."

After the hearing, Hawkins explained that a constituent brought this idea to him a couple of weeks before the legislative session began. He said he hadn't spoken with members of the staff of the association, but he had been discussing the issues in the bill with the group's lobbyist. He said he wasn't surprised by what happened Friday.

"So in all honesty, this bill was never going to pass," he said, "Not committee, nothing. It was a way to start a conversation. …I think they're (UHSAA) very aware of the problem. It seems like nothing is being done to solve the problem."

When pressed whether proposing changes to state law is a productive path to open dialogue between lawmakers and outside organizations, Hawkins said it is. In fact, he said he believed thoughtful discussions had already been spawned by the hearing.

"I think we ought to get back to like, you play in the school boundaries that you live in," he said, adding that he wanted to continue working on solutions. "I would like to stay involved in it, and just talk about … these rules are in place, how do we enforce them?"

There are several bills aimed at regulating high school sports, but none of them address or detail how enforcement should work. Currently, schools are the front line of enforcement, and anyone can report an issue or violation to the association's staff. There are detailed remedies and procedures in the association's handbook, including a new, much more strict transfer rule that was enacted in the spring of 2024.

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