HB 315 requires Utah public schools to include two specific videos in human growth and development instruction for students in grades 3-12: a high-definition ultrasound showing fetal organ development and a video depicting fertilization and pregnancy stages. It mandates that schools make all instructional materials available to parents upon request and directs the State Board of Education to publish approved materials, conduct compliance audits, and share audit results. The bill affects all local education agencies (LEAs) in Utah and their students, while giving parents access to curriculum content. No new funding is provided, and the policy focuses on specific educational content requirements within existing health curriculum standards.
HB 197 (School Materials Amendments) requires Utah schools to manage "sensitive material" (defined as pornographic or indecent content per state law) in digital instructional resources. It directly affects parents, school staff, and vendors providing digital learning tools by mandating: (1) annual parent notifications during student registration, (2) school libraries to prioritize certain books, (3) LEAs to maintain online reporting systems for sensitive material, and (4) school devices to use filters blocking such content. The bill also allows school entities to terminate vendor contracts if digital materials aren’t removed after violations. It does not appropriate new funds and amends Utah Code sections related to school materials and parent portals.
HB 150 updates eligibility for Utah's Salary Supplement for Highly Needed Educators program to explicitly include speech-language pathologists and technicians working in designated high-needs school assignments. It also adjusts funding for teaching supplies, providing $500 per classroom teacher position for pre-K through grade 6 and $250 for grades 7-12. The bill makes technical changes to existing funding distribution rules without appropriating new money, clarifying how school districts calculate payments. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, and directly affect school districts, charter schools, and educators in qualifying roles.
HB 42 establishes minimum cybersecurity standards for Utah's public schools (local education agencies) and expands the Utah Cyber Center's role to provide dedicated security services to schools. It requires schools to implement specific measures like multi-factor authentication, patch management, and endpoint detection systems, while mandating incident reporting to the Cyber Center. The law also directs the State Board of Education to develop implementation guidelines and creates new reporting requirements for cybersecurity breaches in educational settings. These changes directly affect all Utah public schools and their cybersecurity practices, aiming to strengthen protection for student and school data. The bill contains no new funding and amends several existing Utah Code sections related to education and cybersecurity.
HB 55 requires schools and government agencies contracting with education technology vendors to include specific privacy clauses in their agreements. It mandates that if a vendor illegally sells student data (violating state or federal law), the school must notify the vendor within 30 days and terminate the contract if the violation isn’t fixed within another 30 days. The bill also prohibits vendors from charging fees or seeking damages for contract termination due to privacy violations and repeals a prior provision allowing vendors to respond to student feedback requests. This directly affects schools, their ed tech vendors, and student data privacy protections under Utah law.
HB 75 amends Utah's education laws to better support American Indian and Alaska Native students. It defines "American Indian and Alaska Native concentrated schools" (those with ≥29% Native students), expands grant eligibility for schools serving these students (prioritizing certain counties), and requires the state board to adopt a specific education plan by 2027. The bill mandates annual reporting to the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee on grant use, program effectiveness, and plan implementation. It updates existing grant rules and creates new reporting requirements without appropriating new funds. The policy directly affects Utah schools with significant Native student populations and tribal communities through improved resource targeting and accountability.
SB 1 allocates $44.5 million for Utah's public higher education institutions for fiscal year 2026 and $3.08 billion for 2027, funding operations, instruction, research, and specific programs. It directs funds from the General Fund, Income Tax Fund, and other sources to institutions like the University of Utah (including its School of Medicine, cancer research, and hospital) and Utah State University (covering veterinary medicine, dentistry, and career education). The bill specifies detailed budget breakdowns for departments such as academic support, student services, and initiatives like the Poison Control Center. This funding directly supports the day-to-day operations and strategic priorities of Utah's public universities.
HB 1 amends Utah's public education budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, primarily adjusting funding formulas and allocations. It sets the weighted pupil unit (WPU) value at $4,870 for 2026-2027, revises eligibility for career and technical education funding, and modifies emergency funding for English learners. The bill appropriates over $8.7 billion for school operations and capital budgets in 2027, including $4.8 billion from the Uniform School Fund, and adjusts tax rate calculations to support school funding. These changes directly affect Utah school districts, charter schools, and state education agencies through updated budget allocations and funding mechanisms.