HB 204: Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation - Utah

Amended 3/6/2026 15:03:279 → Substitute #1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision broadens protections for students by expanding the definition of 'reasonably accommodate' to include excusing participation, offering alternative deadlines, or providing alternative exams. It clarifies that accommodations are required when exam conflicts create hardships due to religious or conscience beliefs, while also removing the previous 'undue hardship' threshold that could allow schools to deny requests. The text also simplifies notification requirements and streamlines the process for instructors to handle accommodation requests.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required accommodations from only those causing 'undue hardship' to any conflict between exam schedules and a student's religious or conscience beliefs, making it easier for students to request and receive accommodations.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the 'undue hardship' language, requiring institutions to accommodate any conflict between exam schedules and a student's sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs.

Simplified notification requirements, removing the specific mandate for 'written prior notice' regarding the date of the exam, focusing instead on providing notice regarding the request itself.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'reasonably accommodate' to explicitly include excusing participation, offering alternative deadlines, or providing alternative examinations, assignments, or activities.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting and numbering inconsistencies in the bill text, such as removing bracketed deletion markers and fixing section references.

Amended 2/26/2026 09:02:431 → Amended 3/6/2026 15:03:279 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to correct a drafting error that incorrectly required students to provide 'prior notice' before seeking an accommodation. The amendment clarifies that students must provide notice regarding the specific date of the conflict, ensuring the process remains accessible while still allowing instructors time to prepare.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on higher education institutions in Utah, but the eligibility criteria for requesting accommodations were clarified to remove a procedural barrier.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for students to provide 'prior notice' before seeking an accommodation, changing the language to require notice regarding the date of the conflict instead.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a drafting error in the definition of 'fundamental alteration' to properly include 'assignment' and 'activity' as items that can be altered.

Fixed a grammatical error in the definition of 'reasonably accommodate' by removing a stray period at the end of the definition.

Corrected a reference in the policy requirements section to ensure it points to the correct subsection regarding student notices.

Amended 2/17/2026 11:02:889 → Amended 2/26/2026 09:02:431 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's higher education religious accommodation laws to broaden protections for students. It clarifies that accommodations apply to both religious and conscience beliefs, removes the requirement for students to prove an 'undue hardship' by instead requiring a simple conflict with their beliefs, and mandates that institutions publish their policies online. The bill also establishes a formal review process involving neutral arbiters to handle denied requests.

Scope change

The scope of protected beliefs was expanded to explicitly include 'conscience' alongside 'religious' beliefs, and the trigger for requiring an accommodation was simplified from a high 'undue hardship' standard to a lower 'conflict' standard.

DEFINITION

The definition of protected beliefs was broadened to explicitly include 'conscience' in addition to 'religious' beliefs.

REQUIREMENT

The threshold for requiring an accommodation was lowered; institutions must now accommodate students when their beliefs 'conflict' with academic requirements, rather than only when such requirements create an 'undue hardship'.

Institutions are now required to publish their religious accommodation policies, points of contact, and holiday lists on their websites.

ENFORCEMENT

A new review process was added requiring institutions to designate 'neutral arbiters' to review denied accommodation requests and determine if they constitute a 'fundamental alteration'.

TECHNICAL

Several technical edits were made to clarify the relationship between this bill and S.B. 207, ensuring this version of the law supersedes the previous one.

Amended Excerpts 3/6/2026 15:03:279 → Amended 2/17/2026 11:02:889 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legal framework for accommodating students with religious or conscience beliefs in Utah higher education. It clarifies definitions like 'fundamental alteration' to ensure accommodations do not compromise academic standards, expands eligibility to include participation in organized religious activities, and establishes new requirements for institutions to create formal policies and review processes for handling accommodation requests.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of protection to include students participating in organized religious activities and clarifies that accommodations apply to all academic requirements, not just examinations. It also coordinates with existing state laws to prevent conflicting provisions.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'fundamental alteration' was expanded to explicitly include changes to activities, ensuring the standard applies beyond just exams and assignments.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for accommodations now explicitly includes students whose conflicts arise from participating in organized activities conducted under their religious tradition or organization.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that institutions establish specific policies and procedures for handling accommodation requests, including confidentiality rules and response timelines.

The bill adds a specific prohibition against forcing students to publicly communicate positions on matters of public concern, such as writing letters to lawmakers or publishing articles.

The criteria for granting accommodations were updated to focus on conflicts creating an 'undue hardship' rather than just general conflicts, providing clearer guidance for institutions.

Amended Excerpts 2/26/2026 09:02:431 → Amended Excerpts 3/6/2026 15:03:279 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered to align with a new section title regarding student religious accommodations. The core policy changes involve redefining 'fundamental alteration' to include changes that negatively impact a student's ability to act as a neutral arbiter, and expanding the types of academic tasks that can be accommodated to include activities. Additionally, the requirement for instructors to keep student requests confidential was modified to allow disclosure if permitted by other laws.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include 'activities' alongside examinations and assignments as eligible items for religious accommodation.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'fundamental alteration' that includes changes negatively impacting a student's ability to serve as a neutral arbiter.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of academic requirements subject to accommodation to explicitly include 'activities'.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the confidentiality requirement for instructors to allow disclosure if permitted by law, rather than strictly prohibiting it.

TECHNICAL

Updated line references and section numbering throughout the text to reflect a restructuring of the bill.

Amended Excerpts 2/17/2026 11:02:889 → Amended Excerpts 2/26/2026 09:02:431 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify that instructors are permitted, rather than required, to disclose a student's religious accommodation request if the law mandates it. Additionally, the notice requirements for students seeking accommodations were slightly reworded to improve clarity regarding the timing and content of the notification to instructors.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the legal obligation for instructors regarding confidentiality from 'required' to 'permitted' when disclosure is mandated by law, giving instructors more flexibility in handling sensitive student information.

Adjusted the language for student notice requirements to specify that students must provide prior notice regarding the specific request for accommodation, streamlining the process for students seeking religious exemptions.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/17/2026 11:02:889 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify the conditions under which students can request religious accommodations, specifically changing the trigger from 'undue hardship' to 'conflicts with beliefs' and tightening notice requirements. Additionally, confidentiality rules were updated to allow disclosure when required by law, and the list of religious holidays is now distributed by the commissioner rather than created by institutions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on higher education institutions in Utah, but the criteria for granting accommodations were broadened slightly by removing the 'undue hardship' barrier while adding stricter notice requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the condition for granting accommodations from requiring an 'undue hardship' to simply having a 'conflict' with the student's religious or conscience belief.

Updated the notice requirement to explicitly mandate that students provide 'written' prior notice to instructors.

Shifted the responsibility for creating and distributing the annual list of religious holidays from institutions to the state commissioner.

DEFINITION

Revised the confidentiality clause to allow instructors to disclose student accommodation requests if required by law.

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MODERATE

This bill expands protections for students by adding a new definition for 'fundamental alteration' to limit when accommodations can be denied, clarifying that changes cannot alter the essential nature of a course. It also introduces a specific prohibition preventing instructors from forcing students to publicly express opinions on matters of public concern, such as writing letters to lawmakers or posting articles online. Additionally, the bill shifts some responsibilities to instructors, requiring them to respond to accommodation requests and establish grievance processes.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of required accommodations and adds new restrictions on instructor conduct regarding student speech and opinion.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'fundamental alteration' to clarify that accommodations cannot change the essential nature or learning outcomes of a course.

REQUIREMENT

Added a prohibition preventing instructors from compelling students to publicly express opinions on matters of public concern, including writing letters to officials or publishing articles.

Modified the process to require instructors to respond to accommodation requests and notify students of denials with reasons.

Added a requirement for institutions to establish a reasonable timeframe for students to submit requests and for instructors to respond.

Modified the list of required website disclosures to include the grievance process and general procedures for requesting accommodations.

Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation

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