Legislative Bills

SB0112 | Public Education Information Systems Uniformity Act

Description

General Description:

This bill requires the State Board of Education to have a system for collecting and reporting public education data.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0112

Year:

2019

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 21, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$17,200,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2020: to the State Board of Education - State Administrative Office, as a one-time appropriation: from the Education Fund, One-time, $17,200,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2010-2 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

The Utah Schools Information Management System will consolidate multiple State Education data systems to improve exchanges of information between public education agencies and increase system security/data protection/privacy control. Lack of funding will lead to continued inadequacies in systems integration, increased costs, and elevated data security and privacy risks.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage the legislature to adequately fund critical educational needs, including but not limited to, class size reduction, teacher salaries, technology, textbooks and supplies.

SB0113S01 | Arts Program Funding Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill provides for an annual budgetary review for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Learning Program in certain circumstances.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0113S01

Year:

2020

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 28, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

IND 2014-1 | Arts Education

Impact on Children:

Arts education plays an important role in developing students’ skills in critical thinking, creativity, imagination and innovation. Students involved in the arts have a higher level of academic success. At-risk students who are engaged in the arts have better academic achievement, job opportunities and are more engaged civically than those who do not and access to the arts plays a central role in cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional development. An annual review of the Beverly Sorenson program may provide greater funding for arts programs if necessary.

Commission:

Individual Development

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA advocate for appropriate funding for education that includes the arts as part of a child’s educational experience.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

5. Support additional funding to help with the overwhelming mental health crisis including, but not limited to: programs and classes including art, music, civic, character, and physical education; more school psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers; and professional development.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Arts in Education Position Statement

National PTA believes that the arts, music, literature, dance, drama, and visual arts are central to learning. Infusion of the arts in elementary, secondary, and continuing education curricula is key to the development of students.

National PTA supports:

Programs that promote public awareness of the arts and arts education.
The integration of the arts in school curriculum.

Links

Position Statement - Arts in Education

SB0114S02 | Public School Curriculum Requirements

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses requirements related to the approval of materials for classroom use and certain policies.

Highlighted Provisions:

"12 This bill:
13 ▸requires a process for local school boards and charter school governing boards to
14 approve instructional materials for classroom use;
15 ▸requires local education agencies to adopt policies to provide guidance to educators
16 on the use of materials that have not been approved"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0114S02

Year:

2022

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 04, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2011-1 | Excellence in Teaching

EDU 2019-1 | Best Practices in Education

Impact on Children:

There is no positive impact for children from SB114. It will bring stress for teachers and will reduce innovation, spontaneity and inquisitiveness in the classroom.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA advocate for policies that strengthen respect and support for public education and the teaching profession;

WHEREAS, Instructional and curriculum alignment significantly boosts both student and teacher engagement and therefore significantly boosts student transitions, from one course to the next, both within schools and across institutional boundaries by ensuring that teachers see their curriculum within the progression of intended learning and students see the relevance of individual courses toward the achievement of educational and employment and innovation that is driven by data and evidence based practices includes high quality aligned curriculum and resources; 20, 21 now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations educate parents and community members to support practices which enhance teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement, student-centered learning climates, and instruction and curriculum alignment; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations engage principals and teacher as partners with the PTA to develop relationships, increase capacity within the schools, and improve communities;

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PS - Family Engagement
According to the Global Family Research Project, when families and educators work together to support children’s learning and development, children are more likely to succeed in school, graduate and stay on their path to college or career.

SB0115S01 | High-need School Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill provides for grants to local education agencies to employ additional educators in high-need schools.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0115S01

Year:

2019

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 22, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$500,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2020: to the State Board of Education - Related to Basic School Programs - Grants for Educators for High-need Schools as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $500,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2011-1 | Excellence in Teaching

Impact on Children:

This bill will bring provide grant funding to LEAs to help recruit teachers to teach in high-need areas.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA support adequate funding for and encourage consideration of financial incentives to recruit and retain highly qualified and effective educators, including appropriation of adequate funding to upgrade salary schedules

SB0116S01 | Income Tax Rate Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies the income tax rates.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill provides for a reduction of the income tax rate when the actual state revenue exceeds the forecast revenue.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0116S01

Year:

2026

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 06, 2026

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2025-3 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

Modifying the tax rate based upon expected revenue means that the dollars available for education funding could be decreased. As our K-12 schools are already underfunded, it would be better to keep the rate flat and use extra dollars to fund critical needs in our schools.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

that Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage the legislature to adequately fund critical educational needs, including but not limited to, class size reduction, teacher salaries, technology, programs, supplies, and evidenced-based practices that have an impact on student achievement

SB0116 | Income Tax Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies income tax provisions.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill drops income tax rate to 4.5%

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0116

Year:

2025

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 07, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

Lowering the Income Tax rate means that there will be fewer funds available for public education.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA and its constituent associations continue to urge the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority;

SB0117S04 | Domestic Violence Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions relating to domestic violence.

Highlighted Provisions:

▸ requires a law enforcement officer to conduct a lethality assessment when
13 responding to a report of domestic violence between intimate partners;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0117S04

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$1,305,000

This bill appropriates: to the Department of Public Safety -- Programs and Operations -- Department Intelligence Center, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $100,000; and to the Department of Public Safety -- Programs and Operations -- Department Intelligence Center, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $1,205,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

STU 2009-1 | Teen Dating Violence

Impact on Children:

This bill may help to protect children in a dating relationship that may be the victim of domestic violence by requiring law enforcement to conduct a lethality assessment.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA supports adequate legislation that applies legal consequences for violence in dating relationships

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
Advocate by speaking on behalf of all children and youth in schools, in the community, before governmental bodies, and before other organizations that make decisions affecting children.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

5. SAFETY. Support evidence-based community violence intervention and means reduction strategies.

SB0117 | Human Smuggling Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies the offenses of human smuggling, aggravated human smuggling, and aggravated human trafficking.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill increases the penalty for human smuggling from a third degree felony to a second degree felony; increases the penalty for aggravated human smuggling from a second degree felony to a first degree felony; and removes the requirement of "in a single episode" when there are 10 or more victims from the offenses of aggravated human smuggling and aggravated human trafficking.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0117

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 16, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2016-2 | Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Impact on Children:

Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Traffickers prey on others’ weaknesses, unfortunate circumstances, unfamiliarity, and inexperience. Traffickers are trained to identify vulnerability and use expert manipulation tactics to persuade and control their victims. It is imperative that penalties are increased and requirements for prosecution decreased to combat human trafficking.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations promote and support the adoption and enforcement of laws, at all levels of government, to end the recruitment, force or involvement of a minor in conduct or violence of a sexual nature and all forms of sexual exploitation; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for the protection of rights of victims and support provided measures for the physical, psychological, and social recovery of victims of sexual exploitation;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

5. Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children to prevent suicide, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking,

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Enact Legislation to Protect Youth, Families and Communities From Gun and Other Violence

SB0117 | Office of Student Health Affairs

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Office of Student Health Affairs (office) within the Department of Health and Human Services (department).

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill his bill creates the Office of Student Health Affairs within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0117

Year:

2024

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Children need greater access to health care, especially children in the foster care system.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

National PTA Health Reform and Access to Care for Children, Youth, Families and Pregnant Women

High-risk families have coverage for services that may not be included in a basic benefit plan, such as outreach, case management, transportation, home visits, and child care. This requires more closely aligned social service agencies, mental health centers, juvenile justice systems, and health departments.

SB0119S03 | School Accountability Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill provides that for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years, the State Board of Education is not required to assign to each school an overall rating using an A through F letter grading scale.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0119S03

Year:

2020

Status:

Senate/ to Governor

Last Action:

Mar 28, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2014-1 | Public School Accountability

Impact on Children:

Establishes a statewide accountability system that does not use letter grade but focuses on other metrics.

Perceptions of school quality may impact the hiring and retention of quality educators and support staff.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA Resolution 2014-1 Public School Accountability
Resolved, That Utah PTA support systems of accountability for public schools that take into account qualitative characteristics, including a welcoming environment, family engagement efforts, administrative leadership, and community collaboration; in addition to quantitative measurements, such as educator qualifications, student absenteeism, average student tested proficiency and student academic growth; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA advocates against the implementation of any accountability system that reduces the evaluation of a school to a single grade or score, that ranks schools beyond statistical confidence, and that grades on a bell curve;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

#3 - Support accountability for all public schools that take into account the needs of students, teachers, and communities.

Links

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2014-1 Public School Accountability

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities 2019-20

Legislative Bills

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