SB 268: Religious Curriculum in Schools - Utah

Amended 3/2/2026 09:03:163 → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah education laws to require instruction on American constitutional government and citizenship, specifically adding a mandate to examine the fundamental role of religion and religious liberty in U.S. history starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It also expands the list of optional topics for educators to cover regarding religious history and updates higher education requirements to ensure graduates demonstrate an understanding of religious liberty. Additionally, the bill clarifies that public schools may discuss religion when teaching history or civics, provided it is not religious instruction.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required curriculum to include religious liberty and modifies the scope of higher education degree requirements to include specific knowledge of religious history.

REQUIREMENT

Amended the American constitutional government course standards to require instruction on the fundamental role of religion and religious liberty in U.S. history beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

Enacted a new section listing optional topics for educators to cover regarding the history of religion, including colonial religious traditions, the First Great Awakening, and religious pluralism.

Updated the public school curriculum section to clarify that examining the fundamental role of religion in history is an acceptable academic activity when teaching civics.

Amended higher education requirements to mandate that bachelor's degree candidates demonstrate a reasonable understanding of the primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the bill from March 2, 2026, to July 4, 2026.

Amended 2/25/2026 11:02:688 → Amended 3/2/2026 09:03:163 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah education laws to require public schools to teach the fundamental role of religion and religious liberty in American history and government. It adds specific optional topics for religious instruction, mandates that higher education graduates demonstrate knowledge of religious liberty, and clarifies rules regarding prayer and religious expression in schools. These changes aim to ensure that religious liberty is treated as a core component of civic education.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required curriculum in social studies and history courses to explicitly include religious liberty and the history of religion, and it extends these requirements to higher education degree requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section requiring that American constitutional government courses examine the fundamental role of religion and the primacy of religious liberty in U.S. history.

Added a list of optional topics for religious instruction, including early religious settlements, the First Great Awakening, and religious pluralism.

Modified higher education requirements to mandate that bachelor's degree candidates demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental role of religion in U.S. history and religious liberty.

Modified school rules to clarify that public schools cannot deny the practice of prayer or religious devotionals, and that officials cannot use their positions to disparage religious viewpoints.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the bill from February 25, 2026, to March 2, 2026.

Amended 2/17/2026 10:02:332 → Amended 2/25/2026 11:02:688 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah education laws to require instruction on the fundamental role of religion in American history and the primacy of religious liberty, starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It adds a new optional curriculum section detailing specific religious topics educators may cover and updates higher education requirements to ensure graduates understand these concepts. The changes also clarify that public schools must not exclude religious perspectives from history curricula based on their nature.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required social studies instruction to include specific religious history topics and adds a new optional curriculum section for religious liberty instruction. It also extends these requirements to higher education degree recipients.

TIMELINE

Added a new requirement for the 2027-2028 school year to examine the fundamental role of religion in US history and the primacy of religious liberty within the American constitutional government course.

REQUIREMENT

Enacted a new section (53E-4-205.3) listing optional topics for educators to cover regarding religion, including colonial religious refugees, the First Great Awakening, and religious pluralism.

Updated higher education requirements to mandate that bachelor's degree and teaching credential candidates demonstrate understanding of the fundamental role of religion in US history and the primacy of religious liberty.

Amended public school curriculum rules to explicitly state that no aspect of cultural heritage or societal value shall be excluded from curricula for the primary reason that it affirms or denies religious belief.

Amended Excerpts 3/2/2026 09:03:163 → Amended 2/17/2026 10:02:332 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah education laws to mandate a course on American constitutional government and citizenship starting in the 2026-2027 school year, which must include specific instruction on the role of religion and religious liberty. It adds optional topics for educators to cover regarding religious history and pluralism. The bill also updates requirements for higher education degrees to include a demonstration of understanding regarding U.S. government and religious history, and clarifies rules for public schools regarding religious instruction and student expression.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required social studies instruction to explicitly include religious liberty and the role of religion in U.S. history, and extends these requirements to higher education degree-granting institutions.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates a new American constitutional government and citizenship course starting in the 2026-2027 school year that must examine the role of religion and religious liberty.

Adds a list of optional topics for educators to cover, including religious refugees, the First Great Awakening, and religious pluralism.

Updates higher education requirements so students must demonstrate understanding of U.S. government and religious history before receiving a bachelor's degree or teaching credential.

Clarifies that public schools may not sponsor prayer but must allow students to express religious beliefs in assignments without discrimination.

TIMELINE

Sets the effective date of the bill to July 4, 2026.

Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 11:02:688 → Amended Excerpts 3/2/2026 09:03:163 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reorganized and renumbered to clarify its structure while maintaining the core requirement that public schools cannot provide religious instruction. The scope of permitted topics was expanded to explicitly include 'religious liberty' and the 'primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government.' Additionally, a new provision was added to ensure students can express their religious beliefs in assignments without discrimination.

Scope change

The bill's scope was slightly expanded by adding 'religious liberty' and 'primacy of religious liberty' to the list of teachable topics, and a new requirement was added to prevent discrimination against students expressing religious views in schoolwork.

REQUIREMENT

The list of permissible topics for teaching about religion was updated to explicitly include 'religious liberty' and the 'primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government.'

A new mandate was added requiring LEAs to ensure students can express their religious beliefs in homework and assignments without facing discrimination.

TECHNICAL

The bill's text was renumbered and restructured, shifting line references and reorganizing subsections for clarity.

Amended Excerpts 2/17/2026 10:02:332 → Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 11:02:688 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a new requirement for a specific American constitutional government and citizenship course starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This course must include instruction on the fundamental role of religion in U.S. history and the primacy of religious liberty, with specific topics like the First Amendment and abolition of slavery. Additionally, the timeline for examining religion in history was extended to the 2027-2028 school year, and new optional topics regarding religious pluralism were added.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to mandate a new social studies course focused on American constitutional government and citizenship, including specific religious liberty content, applicable to all students in the state during the 2026-2027 school year and later.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new mandatory course on American constitutional government and citizenship starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Mandated that the new course examine the fundamental role of religion in U.S. history and the primacy of religious liberty.

Added specific optional topics for religious liberty instruction, including the First Amendment, abolition of slavery, and religious pluralism.

Removed previous sections regarding immigrant aid, anti-lynching movements, and opposition to totalitarianism from the list of required topics.

TIMELINE

Extended the requirement to examine religion in history to begin no later than the 2027-2028 school year.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/17/2026 10:02:332 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends Utah education laws to require instruction on the fundamental role of religion and religious liberty in American history and government. It adds specific optional topics for high school civics courses and mandates that higher education graduates demonstrate understanding of these religious principles before receiving degrees. The amendment also modifies a list of historical topics, replacing references to anti-lynching movements and World War II reconstruction with support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required instruction in public schools and higher education to explicitly include religious liberty and the history of religion in the United States.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for higher education graduates to demonstrate understanding of the fundamental role of religion in US history and the primacy of religious liberty before receiving a bachelor's degree or teaching credential.

Added new optional topics for the American constitutional government course, including the influence of religious sermons on liberty, the abolition of slavery, and religious pluralism.

Modified the list of optional historical topics by removing 'anti-lynching movements' and 'United States reconstruction of former World War II enemies,' and adding 'United States support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.'

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah education laws to integrate religious liberty and the role of religion into social studies curricula and higher education requirements. It shifts the mandatory study of religion from a future date to an earlier timeline while adding specific historical topics like the First Great Awakening and religious pluralism. The changes also clarify that public schools cannot discriminate against students' religious expressions and mandate that universities require graduates to demonstrate knowledge of religious liberty.

Scope change

The scope of the bill was expanded to include specific religious topics in the social studies curriculum and to make the study of religion a mandatory component of higher education degrees, whereas previous versions deferred these requirements or had different phrasing.

TIMELINE

The requirement to examine the fundamental role of religion in U.S. history was moved from the 2027-2028 school year to the 2026-2027 school year.

REQUIREMENT

New optional topics were added to the social studies curriculum, including the First Great Awakening, debates on the Constitution, and religious pluralism in contemporary America.

Higher education institutions must now require students to demonstrate a reasonable understanding of the fundamental role of religion in U.S. history and the primacy of religious liberty before receiving a bachelor's degree or teaching credential.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that school officials and employees are prohibited from using their positions to endorse, promote, or disparage any specific religious or non-religious viewpoint.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and phrasing adjustments were made throughout the text, such as changing 'may not' to 'may not' in specific contexts and updating the House Sponsor name.

Religious Curriculum in Schools

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