Legislative Bills

HB0245 | Tobacco Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions relating to sales of cigars and pipe tobacco.

Highlighted Provisions:

Authorizes telephone, mail, Internet, and other remote sales of a cigar or pipe tobacco

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0245

Year:

2025

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 07, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

While the bill states that there will be a system to age verify consumers, there is no guarentee that minors will not be able to purchase these tobacco products.

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2011-1 | Preventing Solicitation of Adult Products to Minors

Impact on Children:

A variety of substances, including but not limited to glues, propellants, certain herbs, tobacco, alcohol, over-the-counter medications, and other common household chemicals can be obtained legally, and are frequently abused as stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and more; and

Abuse of the aforementioned substances can be damaging to the mental, physical, and social health of the user;

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support legislation regarding knowingly providing to minors any information that would be harmful to minors or selling materials to minorsthat are illegal, including, but not limited to pornography, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling; and be it furthers

HB0247 | School Swimming and Lifeguarding Programs

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions in public education related to water safety.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires the inclusion of water safety instruction in the public education core curriculum standards for physical education.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0247

Year:

2025

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 07, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Utah PTA recognizes the importance of teaching water safety to children.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

National Resolution on Water Safety & Instruction.

Resolved, that National PTA and its constituent associations encourage and support public school districts to include curriculum in water safety and swimming skills to ensure all children receive such instruction and guidance

HB0248 | Education Fund Designation Ratio

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to the Education Fund.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0248

Year:

2019

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2010-2 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

This Bill caps the amount of new revenue going into the Education Fund that can be used to fund higher education, which will help provide greater funds for K-12 Public Education funding. In 1996 voters approved a constitutional amendment which allows the Legislature to use the Education Fund for higher education. Since that time the percentage of the Education Fund budget used for higher ed has continued to increase.

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;

HB0249S02 | Education Related Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses parental engagement in the education arena.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
12 ▸ addresses a parent's access to and submission of education records;
13 ▸ grants rulemaking authority;
14 ▸ directs the state board to create record tracking interoperability for education
15 records in the information management system under certain circumstances;
16 ▸ requires the state board to create a parent portal that provides information outlined
17 in statute, including school comparison information;
18 ▸ requires notification of the parent portal;
19 ▸ provides for the appointment of a parent engagement specialist, including providing
20 for the specialist's duties;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0249S02

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ to Governor

Last Action:

Mar 13, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2019-1 | Best Practices in Education

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill very very directly will encourage parent engagement in our public schools.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations prioritize programs and activities that arelinked to learning opportunities and develop higher forms of family engagement;

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage the State Legislature to prioritize education funding in the areas of teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement, student-centered learning climate, and instruction and curriculum alignment.

HB0250S02 | School Fee Revisions

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to school fees.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0250S02

Year:

2019

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 25, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Impact on Children:

HB 250 is a companion Bill to Rule R277-407, School Fees passed by the Utah State School Board on Friday, February 8, 2019. This Bill helps to clarify school fee statute and will help parents to understand what their rights are regarding the payment of school fees and the process for fee waivers.

PS EDU 2019 School Fees: http://www.utahpta.org/files/docs/PS%20EDU%202019%20School%20Fees.pdf

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

First and foremost, "Utah PTA urges the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority. We also encourage the legislature to adequately fund critical education needs, including but not limited to, class size reduction, teacher salaries, technology, textbooks and supplies..."
(EDU 2010-2 Education Funding)

We recognize that current education funding does not cover the costs of all curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities within our schools but are concerned with the overwhelmingly increasing fees being charged to students and families across the state.

Utah PTA supports school fees legislation and Board rule that provides a clear definition of a fee, requires the fee to be equal or less than the expense incurred by the LEA (Local Education Agency), and holds LEAs accountable for incorrectly charging school fees. We also support legislation or Board rule that requires an
LEA governing board to adopt a fee policy and fee schedule which includes public input and is available to students and families at registration.

While we support legislation and/or Board Rule that prohibits an LEA from charging a fee for a textbook; and other activities related to the school day, including, locker rentals. We are concerned about the additional costs that may be incurred by LEAs who currently charge for such expenses and continue to urge "the legislature to ... adequately fund critical education needs."

HB0251 | School Dropout Prevention Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill makes changes to provisions related to school dropout prevention.

Highlighted Provisions:

"11 This bill:
12 ▸ requires a local education agency that meets certain criteria to provide dropout
13 prevention and recovery services by either:
14 • contracting with a third party; or
15 • creating a dropout prevention and recovery plan;"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0251

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2014-2 | Chronic Absenteeism (retired)

Impact on Children:

Drop out and absenteeism have been a frightening byproduct of the pandemic. Now more than ever LEAs must have the mandate and flexibility to handle this issue and offer the right services for struggling students.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

"That Utah PTA urge the Utah State Board of Education to adopt policies for early
identification of students who are chronically absent; provide targeted prevention, positive
support, and outreach strategies and services which include parents and families that
address chronic absenteeism; and develop community-wide awareness strategies; "

HB0252 | Electronic Cigarette and Other Nicotine Product Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts and amends provisions relating to electronic cigarette products, alternative nicotine products, and nontherapeutic nicotine products.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0252

Year:

2019

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2015-2 | Electronic Cigarettes and Utah Youth

Impact on Children:

Studies show that when an increased tax in imposed purchase rates go down, also part of the tax collected would go towards prevention efforts with youth, and there will be more oversight of where these products are sold to prevent underage sales.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA support the position that any revenue generated through taxation of ENDS should support tobacco cessation and prevention programs;
Resolved, That Utah PTA seek and support legislation that would include ENDS in the Utah Code Annotated definition of tobacco products and treat them as such - including the need for licensing, sales restrictions, tax parity, and marketing;

HB0256S01 | Farm to School Program

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions to codify Utah's farm to school program.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill enacts provisions to codify Utah's farm to school program. creating the Utah Farm to Fork Commission which will (among other things) administer a grant program to provide grants to schools, child care centers, nonprofit organizations, and farmers to establish or expand farm to school programs

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0256S01

Year:

2022

Status:

House/ 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:

HEA 2017-1 | Nutrition and Exercise

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill will improve access of school lunch programs to more fresh fruits and vegetables, reducing reliance on more processed foods.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with schools, school boards, and other
appropriate bodies to encourage schools to practice principles of sound nutrition for all
foods and beverages made available to students in the classroom, the lunchroom, or in
vending machines;
That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support efforts of schools and families to
provide children with food and drink that is low in calories, low in saturated fats, low in
sodium, and higher in fiber

HB0258S02 | Firearm Safety in Schools

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a pilot program to provide a firearm safety course in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
▸     creates a three-year pilot program to provide a one semester course in the safe
handling of firearms for grades 9 through 12;
▸     requires a local education agency (LEA) to:
•     contract with a provider to supply materials and curriculum for the pilot program; or
   •     develop curriculum for the pilot program;
▸     requires the State Board of Education to:
•     select LEAs to participate in the pilot program;
•     award grants to participating LEAs for curriculum and supplies for the pilot
program; and
•     make rules, including rules establishing qualifications for instructors;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0258S02

Year:

2021

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 05, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA appreciates the value the establishment of education programs for students about gun safety may have. However, public education standards and policy should be left to the State Board of Education and development of curriculum should be left to the LEAs. Utah PTA is concerned with the precedence this legislation sets for other legislators to develop public education curriculum within state statute.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-3 | State Board of Education

Impact on Children:

While providing a valuable resource for children in rural areas, we are concerned about the impact this bill will have in more urban areas of the state and the problems this legislation will present in those areas.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, 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:

Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government.
Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Establish education programs to teach students, parents and community members about gun safety and violence prevention.

HB0259 | Juvenile Interrogation Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses the interrogation of a child.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill clarifies the requirements for an interrogation of a child; requires a law enforcement agency to make an audio or visual recording of an interrogation of a child; addresses the admissibility of a recorded or unrecorded interrogation of a child; addresses the admissibility of an admission, confession, or statement by a child as a result of an interrogation.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0259

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

Impact on Children:

Children deserve fair treatment even if they have allegedly done something wrong. This bill will ensure the safety of children being interrogated by mandating audio or visual recording of a child's interrogation, ensuring the presence of a 'friendly adult' during the process, and granting the right for a child to consult with an attorney if detained. Additionally, it prohibits the provision of false information during interrogation.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

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

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA CHILD SAFETY AND PROTECTION: Encourage collaboration between law enforcement, the judicial system, and child welfare agencies. Promote alternative dispute resolution techniques that provide a range of possible sanctions.

Legislative Bills

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