Legislative Bills

HB0040S07 | School Safety Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies school safety provisions.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill modifies school safety provisions, including:
• Requires local education agencies (LEA) and institutions of higher education to complete an annual safety needs assessment by October 15.
• Directs the state security chief to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for LEAs and mandates a gap analysis of LEA cybersecurity practices by December 31, 2025.
• Requires existing training on sexual abuse prevention to include incidents of sexual extortion and requires LEAs to offer the training to students yearly (currently required every three years). • Modifies requirements for school safety personnel; allows principals or teachers to be a school guardian in some schools.
• Requires school buildings to have an automated external defibrillator and a universal access key box with keys providing first responders access to all areas of the building.
• Clarifies the role of county security chiefs and local law enforcement agencies in conducting safety needs assessments and providing school guardian training at schools within their jurisdiction.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0040S07

Year:

2025

Status:

House/ to Governor

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA supports the intent of this school safety bill, as it includes critical measures to protect students and staff. Our schools need the necessary resources to implement these measures successfully. We urge lawmakers to allocate the proper funding to ensure these vital protections become a reality.

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2022-1 | Safe School Policies

Impact on Children:

This bill enhances children's safety by strengthening school security measures, improving emergency preparedness, and expanding mental health and abuse prevention training. It requires annual school safety assessments, stricter cybersecurity standards, and increased physical security. By improving school safety and law enforcement coordination, the bill helps create a safer learning environment for all students.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, 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;
Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage investment from Federal, State and local decision makers for the necessary physical and psychological student supports and services, including locally determined physical safety measures, appropriate resources for health and wellness services, research-based online safety programs, qualified school-based health and wellness practitioners, training on trauma-informed practices, and optional mental health screenings for all students

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

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

SAFETY: Support funding to strengthen school safety and security measures, to ensure a physical, academic, social, and emotional safe school community for all This includes but is not limited to school infrastructure, comprehensive safety training, community violence and bullying intervention and reduction, mental health training and resources as well as the education to families and communities on school safety protocols, children's online security, and the assessment of digital threats posed to schools across Utah.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

A founding principle of National PTA’s mission is to promote the safety and well-being of all children and youth. School safety is a critical priority for all parents, educators, students, and community members that cannot be taken for granted. Students and educators have a right to attend schools that are safe and conducive to learning and achievement, yet schools often experience critical incidents such as suicide, natural disasters, or a mass casualty event that have a devastating impact on students, parents, educators, and the community.

National PTA recognizes that school safety is a multi-faceted issue with no one clear solution for each community. All efforts to address school safety must involve all stakeholders, especially students, parents, and families and take into account a variety of factors including the physical and psychological safety of students

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

School safety is a critical priority for all parents, educators, students and community members. Students and educators have a right to attend schools that are safe and conducive to learning and achievement, yet schools often experience critical incidents such as suicide, natural disasters or a mass casualty event that can have a devastating impact and long-term harm on whole school communities. PTA believes efforts to address school and community safety must involve all stakeholders, especially students, parents and families and urges consideration of a variety of factors including the physical and psychological safety of students while maintaining a positive school climate for all children to learn, grow and reach their potential.

Files

Attachment	Size
HB40S1 2_5_2025 Utah PTA LAC Slides.pdf	146.5 KB

HB0041S01 | Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force (task force).

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
creates the task force, addressing:
•     membership;
•     quorum requirements; and
•     compensation for task force members;
requires the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel to staff the task force; and specifies duties of the task force.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0041S01

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$9,200

This bill appropriates: in fiscal year 2021: to the Legislature - Senate as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $400; to the Legislature - House of Representatives as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $400; and to the Legislature - Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $300; and in fiscal year 2022: to the Legislature - Senate as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $2,800; to the Legislature - House of Representatives as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $2,800; and to the Legislature - Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $2,500.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2009-2 | Child Abuse and Neglect

Impact on Children:

Children must be protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, maltreatment, and exploitation.

Commission:

Community Engagement

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

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

HB0043S01 | School Security Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the School Safety Support Program to provide funding for school safety requirements and infrastructure.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill creates the School Safety Support Program to provide funding for school safety requirements and infrastructure.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0043S01

Year:

2026

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 06, 2026

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

This bill creates the School Safety Support Program to provide funding for school safety requirements and infrastructure.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Increase funding to ensure safe schools and to address the growing need for digital and online safety.

HB0044S07 | School Security Personnel Standards

Description

General Description:

This bill provides amendments to school safety standards regarding requirements for various safety related personnel.

Highlighted Provisions:

Bill is focused on school safety and security personnel standards in Utah. It makes changes to how schools organize and manage safety staff, including security guards and school guardians (trained personnel who may carry weapons in emergencies) Expands school safety personnel definitions — including how security guards and “school guardians” are defined Requires training and protocols for safety staff, including how to respond to emergencies. Requires panic alert devices and visitor management systems in schools. Allows county security chiefs to designate private companies for training. Clarifies how armed school guardians can carry concealed firearms on duty.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0044S07

Year:

2026

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 19, 2026

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2022-1 | Safe School Policies

Impact on Children:

Strengthening the safety protocols outlined in this bill could provide a safer environment in Utah's public schools. It could also help to ease the minds of many parents who send their children to school each day. When children and their families feel safe at school a stronger and richer learning environment can occur to the benefit of all.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage investment from Federal, State and local decision makers for the necessary physical and psychological student supports and services, including locally determined physical safety measures, appropriate resources for health and wellness services, research-based online safety programs, qualified school-based health and wellness practitioners, training on trauma-informed practices, and optional mental health screenings for all students,

HB0044S01 | Social Work Licensure Compact

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts the Social Work Licensure Compact.

Highlighted Provisions:

Enacts the Social Work Licensure Compact

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0044S01

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 13, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

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

Impact on Children:

Creates greater access to Licensed Clinical Social Workers for families and children.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA support collaborative efforts between the home, school, private physicians, and community resource agencies to create mental health support networks for families, to recognize the prevalence and need for recognition of mental health illnesses and associated diagnosis and treatment, and to increase the number of psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and mental health professionals to provide adequate services for those needing help;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

HEALTH: 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.

Legislative Bills

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