HB 183: Sex Designation Amendments - Utah

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces the term 'gender' with 'biological sex' throughout Utah state law to align legal terminology with biological reality. It mandates that government agencies, courts, and private entities use 'sex' instead of 'gender' in rules, policies, and programs. The changes specifically affect law enforcement policies, child custody determinations, medical cannabis regulations, and interscholastic sports eligibility.

Scope change

The bill expands the definition of protected characteristics in various contexts by explicitly requiring the use of 'biological sex' terminology, thereby narrowing the scope of 'gender' as a standalone protected category in administrative and legal contexts.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'gender' with 'biological sex' or 'sex' in hundreds of code sections across diverse topics including law enforcement, healthcare, education, and employment.

REQUIREMENT

Required law enforcement agencies to update written policies prohibiting discrimination based on 'race, color, ethnicity, age, or sex' instead of 'gender'.

Added a requirement for courts in child custody proceedings to consider a parent's nonsupport of a child's rejection of the child's biological sex as a factor in awarding custody.

Updated birth certificate and business registration forms to collect and report 'sex' rather than 'gender' or 'gender identity'.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified medical cannabis and shelter regulations to require age-appropriate and sex-appropriate sleeping quarters and services rather than gender-appropriate ones.

Established a new School Activity Eligibility Commission to determine eligibility for interscholastic sports when a student's sex designation does not correspond with their birth certificate.

Amended 2/26/2026 19:02:11 → Substitute #1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces the term 'gender' with 'biological sex' throughout Utah state laws to ensure administrative rules and policies refer to biological sex. It also adds a specific provision for child custody cases, requiring courts to consider a parent's rejection of a child's biological sex as a factor when awarding custody.

Scope change

The bill expands the definition of protected categories in various contexts by explicitly using 'biological sex' instead of 'gender,' and introduces a new custody consideration regarding a parent's refusal to accept a child's biological sex.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'gender' with 'biological sex' in numerous statutes to standardize language regarding sex designation.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for courts in child custody proceedings to view a parent's nonsupport of a child's rejection of the child's biological sex as a factor favoring custody awards.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated eligibility criteria and reporting requirements in areas such as law enforcement, healthcare, and education to reflect the use of biological sex instead of gender.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and numbering errors in the legislative text, such as removing duplicate section headers and fixing line breaks.

Amended Excerpts 2/26/2026 19:02:11 → Amended 2/26/2026 19:02:11 · 3 edits

MINOR

The document was completely replaced with a new substitute bill titled 'Sex Designation Amendments' instead of the previous House Committee amendments. The new bill aims to replace the term 'gender' with 'biological sex' in state laws and requires agencies to use 'sex' when creating administrative rules and policies. This represents a fundamental shift in the bill's focus from specific procedural updates to a broad mandate on terminology regarding biological sex.

Scope change

The scope changed from a series of specific line-item amendments to a comprehensive substitute bill affecting numerous Utah Code sections across various topics, including healthcare, employment, and public services.

REQUIREMENT

Removed specific line-item amendments regarding DNA specimen collection and law enforcement policies on stopping individuals based on race or gender.

Added a mandate to replace the term 'gender' with 'biological sex' in state statutes and to require agencies to use 'sex' instead of 'gender' in administrative rules and policies.

SCOPE

Expanded the bill's scope from targeted procedural edits to a broad legislative substitute affecting over 50 different Utah Code sections.

Introduced → Amended Excerpts 2/26/2026 19:02:11 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces the term 'gender' with 'biological sex' throughout Utah law, repeals protections for gender identity in areas like housing and employment, and restricts access to public restrooms and medical cannabis programs based on biological sex. It also prohibits local police from stopping individuals based on gender identity and mandates that courts consider a parent's rejection of a child's gender identity as a negative factor in custody disputes.

Scope change

The bill significantly narrows the scope of anti-discrimination protections by removing 'gender identity' as a protected class in many contexts and explicitly prioritizing biological sex over gender identity in legal and administrative decisions.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'gender' with 'sex' and added references to 'biological sex' in numerous statutes to align legal language with biological characteristics rather than gender identity.

ELIGIBILITY

Repealed provisions that protected individuals from discrimination based on gender identity in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

Restricted access to medical cannabis programs by requiring that patients and caregivers be assigned cards based on their biological sex rather than gender identity.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for courts to view a parent's nonsupport of a child's gender identity as a factor favoring custody awards to the opposing parent.

Prohibited local education agencies and certain health providers from assigning employees who present as a sex different from their biological sex to duties involving prolonged face-to-face contact with children.

Mandated that police agencies adopt policies prohibiting stops, detentions, or searches motivated by considerations of gender identity.

Amended building codes to require separate restrooms for male and female biological sexes rather than allowing facilities for all genders.

Sex Designation Amendments

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