Legislative Bills

Primary tabs

HB0156S01 | Education Board Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions regarding governance of the public education system.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill modifies provisions relating to state school board powers by prioritizing legislative control over the USBE.

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 07, 2025
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 62
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Local Issue
Impact on Children: 

Utah State Board of Education Members are specifically elected by the residents of Utah to manage and direct public education in the state. Their authority should not be supplanted by Legislative decisions.

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

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

HB0158S03 | Juvenile Interrogation Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses the interrogation of minors who are in custody for an offense.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill addresses the rights of minors who are taken into custody; addresses the waiver of certain rights by minors; addresses the knowingness and voluntariness of waivers by minors; clarifies a minor's waiver to the right to counsel for court proceedings; and makes technical and conforming changes.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 16, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 61
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential—even if they make a mistake while growing up. Second chances are important as children learn and grow into adulthood. This bill would ensure that the rights of minors are taken into custody are preserved.

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

National PTA CHILD SAFETY AND PROTECTION Position Statement

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.
High standards for those who work in all areas concerned with children and youth.
Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government.

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 and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

National PTA CHILD SAFETY AND PROTECTION Position Statement
Promote initiatives to address racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in the juvenile justice system.
Encourage collaboration between law enforcement, the judicial system, and child welfare agencies.
Promote alternative dispute resolution techniques that provide a range of possible sanctions

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Juvenile Justice is not on the Checklist this year but is part of their public policy agenda. https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/federal-legislation/Public-Policy-Agen...

HB0160 | Distracted Driver Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to the use of a handheld wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms related to the operation of handheld wireless communication devices;
14          ▸     prohibits certain uses of a handheld wireless communication device while operating
15     a motor vehicle on a roadway;
16          ▸     provides limited exceptions to the prohibition on the use of a handheld wireless
17     communication device while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway;

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 34
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

The changes would increase the ability to enforce the law by not allowing any manual manipulation and thereby making Utah roads safer for all.

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

National PTA Resolution on Distracted Driving Resolved, That PTA and its constituent associations support the adoption and enforcement of laws that restrict the manipulation of handheld and portable communication devices while driving;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.

HB0161S01 | Foreign Language Education Funding Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to the funding of foreign language education.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Prevents funding from a restricted foreign entity to the dual immersion program.
Aligns the dual immersion programs funding with the WPU (requiring growth and inflation adjustment)

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 49
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$3,115,900
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2024: to the Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School Programs: from the Uniform School Fund, $2,337,000; and to the University of Utah - Education and General, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Income Tax Fund, $778,900.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

This bill aligns funding for dual immersion with the WPU. It gives an inflationary/growth boost to dual immersion students in the state.

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

HB0161 | Overdose Harm Reduction Working Group

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates a working group to study harm reduction oriented strategies to reduce overdose injuries and deaths in the state.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill creates a working group to study harm reduction oriented strategies to reduce overdose injuries and death in the state

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 24
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

The working group created by this bill under the Utah Substance Abuse Advisory Council will study more deeply how to reduce overdose injuries and death

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

That Utah PTA supports legislative action that promotes education or cessation programs regarding substance abuse