Education

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 295: Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government

SB 295 requires Utah public schools and higher education institutions to promote intellectual diversity by hosting public policy events featuring diverse perspectives, including debates and discussions on differing viewpoints. It mandates that institutions organize these events, maintain public event calendars, and record sessions for transparency, while clarifying that existing anti-discrimination rules do not restrict invited guest lectures or speakers. The bill directly affects public schools, universities, and state government entities by modifying reporting requirements and curricular club policies. It makes no new funding allocations and focuses on procedural changes to encourage open discourse within educational settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates diverse perspective events to enhance academic freedom and intellectual diversity in education institutions, aligning with educational enhancement indicators.90% confidence

introduced · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 526: Student Welfare Check Amendments

HB 526 requires Utah school districts to request a welfare check for students absent 10+ consecutive days under specific conditions: if parents failed to notify the school, didn’t home-school, didn’t unenroll the student, ignored school communications, and the student isn’t enrolled elsewhere. The bill mandates referrals to local law enforcement or child services solely to verify the student’s safety, not to replace other actions. It does not require schools to take additional steps beyond the welfare check referral. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, with no new funding or procedural changes beyond the referral process.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates welfare checks for student absences to verify safety, directly addressing student health/safety within K-12 education context per subjects listed.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

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

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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

introduced · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 274: Supplemental Funding for Literacy Coaching

SB 274 provides supplemental funding to Utah's local schools based on student reading assessment results. It directs the state board to give additional literacy coaching support to school districts (LEAs) and small schools (under 300 students) where average reading performance falls below statewide averages on benchmark assessments. Funding amounts are set as half a full-time equivalent for most districts and a full-time equivalent for small schools showing significant reading growth gaps. The bill does not appropriate new state funds but triggers existing budget allocations based on prior year assessment data, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides supplemental state funding for literacy coaching in schools, directly increasing education budget allocation for K-12 programs based on student performance metrics.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationSB 274 provides supplemental funding for literacy coaching in schools with below-average reading performance, directly advancing educational support through targeted financial resources to improve student outcomes in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Testing & Assessment

Track

introduced · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 532: Student Health and Wellbeing Amendments

HB 532 creates a three-year School-based Behavioral Health Pilot Program administered by Utah's Department of Health and Human Services. The program awards funds to qualified organizations (implementation partners) to help schools establish a tiered mental health support system, including universal screenings, group counseling for at-risk students, and individualized care. Local schools (LEAs/RESAs) must apply to participate, contract with an implementation partner, and follow specific guidelines for delivering mental health services across four tiers of support. The bill coordinates with existing initiatives like SafeUT Crisis Line and does not appropriate new state funds. It directly affects Utah public schools participating in the pilot and their students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates funding for school-based mental health programs, enhancing student wellbeing and support systems within K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates funded mental health pilot program for schools through Health and Human Services, directly advancing student mental health services and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 515: Graduate Student Supplemental Loans

HB 515 creates the Graduate Student Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans covering the gap between federal financial aid limits and actual program costs for eligible graduate students. It directly affects students enrolled in specific non-professional graduate programs (like nursing, social work, education, or counseling) at Utah degree-granting institutions. The Utah Board of Higher Education will administer the fund, make rules for loan applications and repayment, and use repaid funds to sustain the program - requiring no new state appropriations. The fund becomes operational on July 1, 2026, with annual reports to the governor and legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new loan fund to cover cost gaps for education-focused graduate students, directly expanding financial aid access for higher education programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds graduate education in nursing/social work, increasing future healthcare workforce capacity through targeted financial aid for healthcare-related programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 253: Library Materials Amendments

SB 253 requires school districts (LEAs) to create and adopt a public library collection policy developed under a teacher librarian or certified language arts teacher. The policy must comply with existing law (Section 53G-10-103) and be posted online for public access. This bill directly affects school libraries by mandating transparent, staff-guided collection standards. It does not restrict specific materials but sets procedural requirements for how libraries build their collections. The bill is currently pending review by the Senate Rules Committee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates educator-developed library policies with transparency, strengthening professional involvement in school libraries without restricting content.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Libraries

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in committee · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 320: School-based Food Pantry Amendments

SB 320 creates a new legal definition for "school-based food pantry" (including teen centers within public schools) and exempts food distributed through these pantries from requiring proof of immigration status for students under 18 or their parents. It also modifies existing food rules to exempt pantry-distributed food from restrictions on certain additives (like bromate and artificial colors) that normally apply to school meals. The bill directly affects public schools, students, and families accessing food pantries by removing barriers to access and clarifying food distribution rules. The changes take effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts school food pantries from immigration status proof and additive restrictions, directly expanding access to nutrition for K-12 students and supporting educational access and student well-being.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts food pantries from immigration checks and additive restrictions, improving access to nutritious food for students, a public health measure.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationExempts food distribution from requiring immigration status proof for students/parents under 18, directly enabling immigrant access to school food services without documentation barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 467: Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Modifications

HB 467 modifies Utah's Fits All Scholarship Program to clarify eligibility and strengthen oversight. It requires students to be under 19 as of September 1 of the scholarship year and establishes consumer protection standards for how scholarship funds are spent. The bill also enhances program oversight, improves customer service standards for participants, and makes technical updates to program administration rules. These changes directly affect Utah students in kindergarten through 12th grade applying for the scholarship, ensuring clearer eligibility and better safeguards for scholarship funds. The bill does not appropriate new funds but adjusts existing program operations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies scholarship program to clarify eligibility, strengthen oversight, and ensure proper fund usage, enhancing access and program integrity for K-12 students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice Student Financial Aid