Legislative Bills

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HB0273S02 | Classroom Technology Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires the State Board of Education to create model policies on the use of technology and artificial intelligence in a public school classroom.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Requires the State Board of Education to create model policies on the use of technology and artificial intelligence in a public school classroom.

Bill Details
Year: 
2026
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 18, 2026
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 15
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

HB 273 S2 is not a safety law or a ban — it’s focused on how technology and AI are used in Utah classrooms. If it becomes law, it could lead to: clearer rules about tech use by grade level more oversight of AI in schoolwork optional AI-related learning opportunities for students increased involvement of parents in tech-related decisions potential new costs for schools for implementing the policies Overall, the bill is designed to shape how modern tools are integrated into education, with an eye toward balancing innovation and student wellbeing.

Commission: 
Internet Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Utah PTA and its constituent associations help educate parents on the importance of monitoring their youth and teens’ digital behavior and activity online and help parents find appropriate resources such as, but not limited to, training on digital wellness, existing phone manufacturer filters, other filters and other technological tools to help limit exposure to potentially harmful content; Utah PTA and its constituent associations assist schools, community councils, parents and students in learning safe and responsible digital wellness and citizen behaviors through trainings, consultation, and distribution of resources

HB0273S01 | Civics Education Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program to support innovative approaches to civics education.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
13          ▸     creates a pilot grant program to support local education agencies in implementing
14     innovative approaches to civics education;
15          ▸     repeals the civics engagement pilot program;

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 23, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 4
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$1,500,000
This bill appropriates: to the State Board of Education -- Contracted Initiatives and Grants, as a one-time appropriation: from the Education Fund, One-time, $1,500,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Commission: 
Individual Development
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Utah PTA Position Statement: IND 2022-1 Character Development through Civics Education
Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associates encourage Local Education Agencies to provide opportunities for students to display “civic skills” or the ability to participate in civic life, including abilities to think critically, communicate effectively, problem-solve, and work collaboratively through civics engagement projects;

HB0274 | Health Education Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to health education.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires the State Board of Education to establish curriculum requirements that include instruction in sexual assault resource strategies and in sexual violence behavior prevention. It also requires LEAs to review data, including sexual assault data, to inform LEA's policies on health educaton

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 37
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

Passage of this bill will add more resources to teen sexual assault avoidance and prevention of sexual violence behaviors by adding curriculum requirements into the Health Curriculum specific to these issues.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies collaborate with local PTAs and PTSAs of
Middle, Jr. High and High schools and community organizations to increase awareness of
the problem of teen dating violence, and to help educate families, teens, educators, and
legislators about responsible relationships and the causes of teen dating violence and
strategies for preventing teen dating violenc

HB0274S03 | Retail Tobacco Business Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to the sale of certain tobacco products.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 24
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

By regulating the flavored nicotine juices it will help discourage use and purchases by youth.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products;
Resolved, That Utah PTA support effective FDA efforts to regulate ENDS as tobacco products;

HB0277S01 | Child Care Eligibility Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies the child care subsidy provisions of the Employment Support Act.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill defines "income" and "income-eligible child"; provides criteria for an income-eligible child to be eligible for a child care subsidy or grant through the Employment Support Act; and modifies the Office of Child Care's rulemaking authority to allow the office to make rules on prioritizing awards of a child care subsidy or grant.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 16, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 38
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

This bill will help more Utah families have access to state subsidies to pay for childcare during the pandemic. It will also provide stability and reduce administrative burdens for the childcare providers who work so hard to meet the needs of low-income working families.

Commission: 
Family Life
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA encourage affected agencies to examine existing policies and create new policies which will better serve the needs of both children and parents

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

Support legislation, funding, and community partnerships that provide programs and resources to strengthen families and children’s social and emotional learning and well-being including, but not limited to: positive behavior programs and classes including art, music, physical education, civic engagement, and character development; early childhood education, parenting skills, and juvenile justice reforms.

HB0278 | School Board Election Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to the State Board of Education.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill makes the office of State Board of Education member a nonpartisan office.

Bill Details
Year: 
2026
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 06, 2026
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 41
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This change would make the Utah State Board of Education a non-partisan office, which would help make education decisions non-partisan.

Commission: 
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA support legislation which enacts direct, nonpartisan election of State School Board members and opposes partisan election of the same body.

HB0281S03 | Health Curriculum and Procedures Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions regarding health instruction and physical and mental health procedures in the public education system.

Highlighted Provisions: 

1) Requires the Utah Education and Telehealth Network and any health care provider to
obtain written parental consent before providing or facilitating telehealth or another
health care service to a student within a public school;
2) Establishes requirements for in-school mental health therapy, including:
a) Identifying who may and may not provide in-school mental health therapy; and
b) Requiring parental consent and certain parental notification;
5) Ensures that a local or state rule or policy does not create an exemption for otherwise
prohibited endorsement, promotion, or disparagement of a certain religious belief or
viewpoint;

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
House/ to Governor
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2025
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 50
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Clarifies mental health services provided in schools and the consent process

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for programs, policies, and legislation which provide adequate training and resources for recognizing and helping children with emotional and behavioral problemsand improving the training of primary care physicians in mental illness assessment and treatment;

HB0282 | Child Care Center Sales Tax Exemption

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts a sales and use tax exemption related to certain child care programs.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Exempts from sales and use tax amounts paid or charged for construction materials used to open or expand a child care program

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 67
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

Exempting a child care center's construction costs from sales tax might encourage growth which would create more options for Utah families looking for child care.

Commission: 
Community Engagement
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA encourage more public and private efforts to provide after-school care

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government

HB0284S01 | Public Library Background Check Requirements

Description
General Description: 

This bill provides for criminal background checks of public library employees.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill provides for criminal background checks of public library employees. It would require current and prospective employees of the public library in any employment
position that involves significant contact with minors to submit to a criminal background check as a condition of employment;

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 3
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill provides for criminal background checks of public library employees. It would require current and prospective employees of the public library in any employment position that involves significant contact with minors to submit to a criminal background check as a condition of employment;

Commission: 
Community Engagement
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for adequate laws to protect children in all areas of child abuse, neglect, maltreatment, and exploitation

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

High standards for those who work in all areas concerned with children and youth

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

Support evidence-based community violence intervention and means reduction strategies

HB0286S01 | Artificial Intelligence Transparency Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts the AI Transparency Act relating to transparency and whistleblower protections for frontier artificial intelligence models.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Because children increasingly use AI tools (like chatbots and recommendation systems), the bill aims to make sure companies think carefully about how their products affect kids and disclose what they’re doing to protect them. Supporters highlight that transparency could help prevent AI from producing harmful content or advice that could confuse, mislead, or negatively influence young users.

Bill Details
Year: 
2026
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 06, 2026
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 48
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Because children increasingly use AI tools (like chatbots and recommendation systems), the bill aims to make sure companies think carefully about how their products affect kids and disclose what they’re doing to protect them. Supporters highlight that transparency could help prevent AI from producing harmful content or advice that could confuse, mislead, or negatively influence young users.

Commission: 
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations assist schools, community councils, parents and students in learning safe and responsible digital wellness and citizen behaviors through trainings, consultation, and distribution of resources; and be it furtherResolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with legislators, state and local school boards, and school community councils to establish appropriate social media policies and discipline measures in regards to, but not limited to, cyberbullying, sexting, and hazing and be it furtherResolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for laws, policies, and technology development which protects children and youth from surveillance capitalism, persuasive technology, and algorithmswhich encourage addictive usage of social media, and be it furtherResolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support lawmakers in their efforts to create laws which call for appropriate social media policies that protect children and provide parents the ability to know what their child is engaged in, who they are engaging with and how much time they are engaging online, in order to empower parents to make the best decisions for their children and families.