Legislative Bills

SB0155S03 | 988 Mental Health Crisis Assistance

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Statewide Behavioral Health Crisis Response Account and amends provisions related to the membership and duties of the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Commission.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill creates the 988 Suicide and Crisis Services Account

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0155S03

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 11, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$4,923,600

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2021: to the Legislature - Senate, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, $1,600; to the Legislature - House of Representatives, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, $1,600; to the Attorney General - Attorney General, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, $1,000; to Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, $2,451,800; and to University of Utah - School of Medicine, as a one-time appropriation: from Education Fund, ($600,000). This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022: to the Legislature - Senate, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, $6,400; to the Legislature - House of Representatives, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, $6,400; to the Attorney General - Attorney General, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, $3,000; and to Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $1,851,800.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2000-1 | Mental Illness (retired)

HEA 2020-1 | Emotional/Mental Health and Well-Being

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill will move forward the funding necessary to initiate the national 988 Suicide and Crisis phone number to provide the necessary services for a person needing mental health services in a time of severe crisis. Similar to '911' which deals with sending help in times of physical crisis, '988' will offer similar support in a situation of severe mental or emotional crisis such as a person seriously contemplating suicide.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support prevention and intervention initiatives and appropriate state funding for collaborative efforts between the home, school, private physicians, and community resource agencies to create support networks for families.

SB0157 | Parental Rights in Public Education

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses the rights of parents, and the sovereignty of the state, with respect to public education.

Highlighted Provisions:

13 ▸ recognizes and exercises state sovereignty in public education;
14 ▸ recognizes, exercises, and protects the rights and responsibilities of parents in the
15 education of their children; and
16 ▸ grants parents the right to opt out or withdraw their children from objectionable
17 matters and materials.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0157

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

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA acknowledges the importance of the partnership between parents and public education. We strive to accomplish the Utah PTA Purposes as found in the Utah PTA Public Policy Program:

-To bring in to closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate more intelligently in the education of children and youth.

-To develop, between educators and the general public, such united efforts as will secure, for all children and youth, the highest advantages in physical, social, and spiritual education.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-3 | State Board of Education

EDU 2019-1 | Best Practices in Education

Impact on Children:

Children are best served when politics is out of public education. Rather than create an atmosphere of partnership between the school and the parent - this bills aims to create an adversarial relationship between parents and the school system.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

2019-1: 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

2015-03: That Utah PTA recognizes the State Board of Education as the body elected to establish policy and standards for education in the State of Utah

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

The Utah PTA Purposes

-To bring in to closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate more intelligently in the education of children and youth.

-To develop, between educators and the general public, such united efforts as will secure, for all children and youth, the highest advantages in physical, social, and spiritual education.

SB0158 | Children's Health Coverage Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a program to increase health insurance coverage for children and directs the Department of Health to expand eligibility for children's Medicaid and CHIP.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill creates a program to increase health insurance coverage for children and directs the Department of Health to expand eligibility for children's Medicaid and CHIP.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0158

Year:

2021

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 05, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill will increase health insurance coverage under children's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to include children whose family is at, or below, 200% of the federal poverty level. Also, this bill includes a media outreach campaign to raise awareness of options for health insurance coverage that are available for Utah children

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

NPTA Position Statement National Health Reform and Access to Care for Children, Youth, Families and Pregnant Women
Health Care Costs. The National PTA believes that agencies with responsibilities for educational, health or welfare services must have provisions for adequate funding and structure to meet effective legislative intent[16] and to provide adequate funding for school and community services to children in areas under federal government control. Any health plan should provide adequate reimbursement levels to encourage the development of primary care practices and to ensure appropriate distribution of health resources to underserved areas, and not shift costs to families, particularly those of low income. Costs should be contained in all sectors of the health care system, and administrative procedures be simplified.

SB0159 | Dyslexia Screening Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill requires dyslexia screening for certain students in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill will provide for students in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 to be screened annually for dyslexia. Also parents may request for screening for their students participating in the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, Statewide Online Education Program, Utah Fits All Scholarship, and students participating in home school

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0159

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

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2025-1 | Support for Students with Dyslexia and Other Specific Learning Disabilities

Impact on Children:

Screening all students will help identify those who need specialized interventions. This could help struggling readers to be overcome barriers and be more successful readers. This would also contribute to increasing the literacy of Utah students.

Commission:

Special Needs Specialist

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA and its constituent associations recognize that dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities have significant educational implications that need to be better addressed by public schools and school districts.

SB0162 | Education Expenses Tax Credit During Public Health Emergency

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts a nonrefundable income tax credit for certain education expenses during a public health emergency.

Highlighted Provisions:

Enacts a nonrefundable individual income tax credit that an individual may claim for a dependent's education expenses incurred as a result of a change in school enrollment or instruction caused by a public health emergency.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0162

Year:

2021

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 05, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2010-2 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill diverts tax dollars to private interests with no transparency or accountability.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA oppose vouchers, tax credits and deductions and other similar funding sources for public and private preschool, elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for students.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Support education legislation which guarantees that public funds intended for the funding of the public education system not be allocated for private interests including vouchers, tax credits, or other means.

SB0165S02 | Economic Mobility Initiative

Description

General Description:

This bill establishes a partnership to support community-based partnerships focused on educational and economic outcomes.

Highlighted Provisions:

This is a landmark legislative proposal designed to lift Utah families out of poverty by transforming schools into community hubs through the REACH Initiative. By establishing a grant program for community-based partnerships, the bill aligns local nonprofits, government agencies, and schools under a single "Mobility Action Plan" to provide essential wraparound services—such as mental health care, early literacy tutoring, and workforce training—directly to students and their parents.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0165S02

Year:

2026

Status:

Senate/ to Governor

Last Action:

Mar 13, 2026

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2024-1 | Family Engagement in Education

Impact on Children:

The impact of S.B. 165 on Utah's children is centered on the idea that a child cannot reach their academic potential if their basic needs are not met. By transforming schools into "hubs" for community support, the bill aims to change the daily reality for thousands of students. For the Utah PTA, S.B. 165 is not just another "education bill"—it is a legislative blueprint for the Whole Child advocacy the PTA has led for decades.

Commission:

Community Engagement

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations actively seek or develop and promote programs that assist parents in extending and supporting skills developed at school; and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA promote the use of programs and tools to guide parents, alongside their children, in forming plans for their children’s education; and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations provide opportunities for parents to feel welcome and valued at their children’s schools and to partner intentionally with teachers and other school personnel as well as create strong partnerships within the community;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

(2) parental involvement as an essential component of all policy-making processes pertaining to children;

Champion opportunities for constructive family engagement within schools and the greater community.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Shared Responsibility in Educational Decision Making The National PTA supports the concept of shared responsibility in the development of school policies and in curriculum decisions. PTA urges all school boards to cooperate with parents, teachers, students, principals, administrators, business, civic and community leaders, and the general public in this process. We recognize that boards of education have the legal responsibility for school policy. At the same time, we believe that, because parents, teachers, students, and the general public are affected by school policy, it is appropriate that they participate in its determination. We believe that such sharing of responsibility will result in greater responsiveness to student and societal needs and therefore improve the quality of educational opportunity.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

According to the National PTA Legislative Checklist, we support bills that provide for early intervention, rural equity, and meaningful parent leadership. S.B. 165 checks every one of these boxes by prioritizing our most vulnerable families and ensuring that parents are treated as partners in their children’s success.

SB0166S03 | School Readiness Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends and enacts preschool provisions.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0166S03

Year:

2019

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 26, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$12,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2020: to Department of Workforce Services - Operations and Policy - Workforce Development Division, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $6,000,000; to State Board of Education - General System Support - Teaching and Learning, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $500,000; and to the State Board of Education - Initiative Programs - UPSTART, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $5,500,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2009-1 | Early Childhood

Impact on Children:

This repeals a non-working, older system, and aligns the work and coordination of multiple committees. It expands the UPSTART program and makes it more than just a pilot program.

Commission:

Family Life

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies work collaboratively with existing early childhood programs to better coordinate services; and be it further; That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies advocate for policies and funding to improve early childhood services throughout the state.

SB0166S01 | Education Entity Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill provides a home-based education entity and micro-education entity with certain similar duties, requirements, waivers, and rights as private and charter schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

▸ requires a county to consider micro-education and home-based education entities as
15 a permitted use in all zoning districts within a county;
16 ▸ subjects a micro-education entity to the same occupancy requirements for Class B
17 Occupancy and prevents a home-based education entity from being subject to any
18 occupancy requirements beyond a primary dwelling requirements;
19 ▸ defines:
20 • education cooperative;
21 • extracurricular lessons;
22 • home-based education entity; and
23 • micro-education entity;
24 ▸ exempts a micro-education entity and a home-based education entity from
25 immunization requirements and compulsory education requirements
26 ▸ prevents government entities from regulating micro-education entity and
27 home-based education entity instructors, student assessments, and food preparation

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0166S01

Year:

2023

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 03, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

SB0166 Legalizes various loopholes that endanger the lives of children while doing little to educate them. Health and safety hazard loopholes include: prohibition for immunization requirements; prohibition for food preparation inspection; no requirements for background checks for educators. To the safety and health hazards this bill proposes, it also adds a permissive education environment: no student to teacher ratio; no attendance requirements; no curriculum, no assessment and no credentials for teachers. This bill would be unconscionable for public schools, and is equally unacceptable for any student outside the public school system.

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2022-1 | Safe School Policies

Impact on Children:

All Utah students deserve to learn in a safe environment. This bill disregards both safety and learning.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

that Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage all efforts to address school safety to involve all stakeholders, especially students, parents, and families, and consider a variety of factors including the physical and psychological safety of students

SB0167S03 | Sexual Exploitation Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill concerns the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Highlighted Provisions:

modifies the offense of sexual exploitation of a minor;
creates the offense of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0167S03

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 22, 2022

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:

This bill will create the offense of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and increase penalties for sexual exploitation of a minor

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 sexually nature and all forms of sexual exploitation;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.

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

SB0168 | Commission for Student-centered Public Education Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Commission for Student-centered Public Education.

Highlighted Provisions:

"14 ▸ creates the Commission for Student-centered Public Education (commission);
15 ▸ directs the commission to create a systems framework for enabling the K-12 public
16 education system to become more student centered;
17 ▸ directs the commission to hire a consultant to assist the commission with
18 development of the systems framework; and
19 ▸requires the commission to report to the Legislature and the governor."

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0168

Year:

2022

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 04, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$500,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to the Legislature -- Legislative Services -- Pass-Through: from Education Fund, One-time, $500,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA supports the purpose of the commission, but is concerned about the creation of a new body separate from the constitutionally mandated school board of education.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-3 | State Board of Education

Impact on Children:

Utah PTA is supportive of the USBE vision behind the Portrait of the Graduate and its corollary model of teaching Personalized Proficiency Based Learning.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA recognizes the State Board of Education as the body elected to establish policy and standards for education in the State of Utah;

Legislative Bills

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