Legislative Bills

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SB0141S02 | Family Health Services Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts provisions related to maternal and child health services.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to inform eligible individuals about child and maternal health services offered by state agencies, like home visits

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 10
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

Support in early childhood has an outsized impact on the health and well being of an individual.  

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

Early Childhoodhat Utah PTA and its constituent bodies advocate for policies and funding to improve early childhood services throughout the state.

SB0141 | Office of Student Health Affairs

Description
General Description: 

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

Highlighted Provisions: 

Office of Student Affairs oversees health services provided by department of Utah's public education system coordinating with USBE and local health departments to improve students access to parents approved health services including: 1) physical wellness services, 2) mental health services and 3) programs for the management of chronic health conditions.

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 07, 2025
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 15
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Improve access and delivery of health services to students from K - 12

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

That Utah PTA and its constitution associations support increased education and awareness campaigns to share evidence-based mental health knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders to students, families, and communities;and,provide early intervention and prevention programs;and, help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness;and be it further

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

Support legislative action that focuses on the diverse mental health needs of Utah’s students and families, with a focus on promoting protective factors. This includes increasing public knowledge and understanding of mental health concerns throughout the state, access to resources, as well as providing funding for proactive prevention, timely interventions, and community-based initiatives utilizing evidence-based methods.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Elements of Comprehensive Health Programs: Health Services that appropriately reflect the educational and community commitment to address identified health problems that limit students’ abilities to learn.

SB0142S01 | Public Education Funding Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee to complete an evaluation and make recommendations for future legislation regarding public education funding and addresses funding for students who are at risk.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
▸ requires the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee to:
• complete an evaluation of public education funding;
• make recommendations for future legislation; and
• report to the Executive Appropriations Committee;

▸ enacts a weighted pupil unit add-on for students who are at risk using weighting based on:
• students who receive free or reduced price lunch; and
• students who are English language learners;

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2021
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 10
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill allows for the further study and recommendations from the West Ed study on Education Funding commissioned by the Utah State Board of Education. It furthers study of a WPU add on for at-risk students and other mechanisms to increase equity in education funding.

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

Resolved That Utah PTA continue to urge the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority; and be it further
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.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Equity in the form of equal justice, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities in every phase of life for all children and youth, while recognizing that each child is unique with individual needs and talents.

SB0142S06 | App Store Accountability Act

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts provisions governing app store operations and creates requirements for age verification and parental consent.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill enacts provisions governing app store operations and creates requirements for age verification and parental consent.

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 26, 2025
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 8
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Children need to be protected from harmful content on social media apps. This bill furthers the accountability for age verification to app stores. Parents need to be more informed about what are on the apps their children are using.

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

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.
 

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Technology can also give rise to digital environments that could be harmful to children and youth. PTA supports efforts to ensure a safe and positive digital experience for all children and families, fostering learning and healthy lifestyles for all children and equipping them with the technological literacy and access to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

SB0143 | Public Education Vision Screening

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies provisions regarding public education vision screening.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 21, 2019
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 1
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Providing effective and up to date vision screenings under the department of health will help identify vision problems earlier in our children.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA, with its constituent organizations, encourage the education of teachers, parents, guardians, volunteers, school administrators, etc., about the various visual skills needed in the classroom, screening for visual skills deficiencies, and treatment options for such learning-related vision problems; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA encourages implementation of up-to-date and effective vision screenings in schools;
Resolved, That Utah PTA will seek and support legislation that will improve the awareness and detection of learning-related vision problems that adversely affect students in the classroom, and provide necessary funding for such actions