Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 312: Educator License Amendments

SB 312 modifies Utah's educator license discipline rules to better protect students. It creates a tiered system where public schools must automatically restrict employment or volunteering for educators found ineligible due to serious misconduct involving actual harm, credible risk of harm, or sexual misconduct with minors. For less severe cases (like administrative errors or technical violations), restrictions require written findings proving specific risk to student safety, not automatic bans. This directly affects educators whose licenses are denied, suspended, or revoked, as well as school districts enforcing these restrictions. The bill ensures only conduct posing real danger triggers automatic employment bans, while technical errors or minor mistakes do not.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student protection by creating tiered educator discipline rules to prevent harm, explicitly aiming to better safeguard students through targeted restrictions on misconduct.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HCR 12: Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

HCR 12 is a non-binding resolution celebrating Utah's role in the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. It declares the first week of July 2026 as "Independence Week" and directs Utah's public schools, charter schools, and universities to incorporate educational programming about the Declaration and founding principles during the 2026 school year. The resolution also encourages local governments, communities, and the America250 Commission to host events like the "Walk250 Utah" initiative and "The Pen is Mightier" exhibit. It does not appropriate funds or create new legal requirements, focusing instead on coordinating existing educational and community engagement efforts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects public schools and universities to incorporate specific educational programming about the Declaration of Independence, enhancing curriculum content related to foundational principles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HCR 11: Resolution Urging Healthy Activities in Schools

This non-binding resolution urges Utah public schools to prioritize student health by encouraging at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for all K-12 students through existing programs like PE, recess, or classroom movement. It specifically recommends elementary schools (including charters) hold annual field trips to working farms or whole-food restaurants to teach nutrition and food systems. The resolution emphasizes local flexibility, allowing schools to implement these suggestions based on community needs without mandating specific methods. It does not allocate funds or create new legal requirements, instead serving as a policy recommendation aligned with national health guidelines.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUrges K-12 schools to implement daily physical activity and nutrition education via field trips, enhancing student health programs within curriculum as part of educational access.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 311: Medical Translation Amendments

SB 311 requires the Huntsman Mental Health Institute to develop a multilingual SafeUT software application (including Spanish) to support a 24/7 crisis line for school safety. The SafeUT Crisis Line enables anonymous reporting of incidents like bullying, violence, or abuse in schools, while providing crisis intervention for emotional distress. The bill establishes a commission with representatives from state agencies, education, and the public to oversee the program. The application will be accessible to students, parents, and school staff to report concerns and access support, with no funding appropriated and effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates school safety crisis line with mental health support for K-12 students, enhancing student safety and access to resources within education context.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health crisis app development, expanding access to mental health services for students through school safety programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 296: Student Consent Amendments

SB 296 requires Utah schools and colleges to obtain clear, informed consent from students before sharing their educational data (like transcripts, enrollment records, and course history). It mandates a secure digital consent system by July 2027, prohibits bundling unrelated terms with consent requests, and ensures students can revoke consent anytime. The bill directly affects students (including minors, where parents must consent) and educational institutions, while prohibiting schools from restricting consent rights or requiring waivers of unrelated privacy protections. It aligns with federal FERPA law but adds Utah-specific rules for data disclosure, including creating a private right of action if third parties violate these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student data privacy in educational institutions, enhancing student rights and trust through mandatory consent requirements and secure systems.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates secure data handling and informed consent for student privacy, directly protecting educational data under technology-related privacy policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 502: School Attendance Modifications

HB 502 establishes standardized citizenship grading for Utah students, requiring schools to use consistent state-defined criteria for skills like attendance, participation, and meeting deadlines. Parents can opt their children out of citizenship grades, in which case students receive academic grades only and are ineligible for a related higher education scholarship program funded by voluntary tax contributions. The bill also creates statewide test-out options for core classes (English, math, science, social studies) allowing students to earn credit without taking the course, beginning in 2027. Attendance-based grading is permitted, but individualized attendance plans are repealed. These changes affect all Utah public school students, parents, and school districts, with key provisions taking effect in the 2027-2028 school year.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires citizenship grades for scholarship eligibility, restricting access to higher education funding for opt-out students per bill's scholarship ineligibility clause.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 146: Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Program Amendments

HB 146 removes the word "Pilot" from Utah's Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and Refinement Program, making it a permanent program instead of a temporary initiative. The bill affects school districts and teachers participating in the program, which provides funding to support teacher leadership roles like mentoring peers and developing instructional skills outside standard pay structures. Key changes include updating program descriptions in state law to reflect its permanent status and adjusting related administrative references. No new funding is provided, as the bill only makes technical revisions to the existing program framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill makes teacher mentoring program permanent, ensuring ongoing funding for teacher leadership roles and instructional development, directly strengthening K-12 educator support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 77: Dual Language Immersion Amendments

SB 77 amends Utah's laws to enhance concurrent enrollment courses for students who have passed foreign language Advanced Placement exams and extend proficiency assessments for dual language immersion programs. The bill requires universities to offer upper-level language courses in person or through blended learning models, taught exclusively by instructors with specific qualifications (such as a master's degree or advanced language proficiency). It extends the current proficiency assessment for dual language immersion students to cover grades 3 through 12 and allows school districts to partner with universities outside their service area if qualified instructors are unavailable. These changes directly affect accelerated language students, universities, school districts, and instructors involved in these programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends laws to enhance concurrent enrollment, extend proficiency assessments, and require qualified language courses in higher education, strengthening language immersion programs and curriculum standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 163: Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program Amendments

HB 163 amends Utah's Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program to expand scholarship eligibility. It specifically allows currently licensed teachers pursuing special education endorsements to receive program scholarships, which previously covered only paraprofessionals and students in training. The bill updates the program's eligibility rules to include these teachers while maintaining existing requirements for school districts, such as requiring candidates to be state residents and employed by the same district. The program uses existing funds to support scholarships covering tuition, fees, and certification costs, with no new money appropriated.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access for licensed teachers seeking special education endorsements, increasing funding opportunities for educator development and program inclusivity within K-12 education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 131: Charter School Eligibility

SB 131 expands Utah charter school enrollment preferences to include students living within the city or county where the school is located (if their home school is at capacity) and children of military service members and Department of Defense employees. The bill amends existing eligibility rules to add these categories to the list of students who may receive priority admission, while maintaining random lotteries for oversubscribed schools. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not require new state funding. This directly affects charter schools and families seeking enrollment in these schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands K-12 charter school access for local students and military families, increasing educational options without restricting funding or curriculum.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education