Legislative Bills

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Description
General Description: 
Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill, subject to certain exceptions, provides that a law passed by a local school board, other than a law imposing a new tax or tax increase, may be referred to the voters of the school district for the voters approval or rejection.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 71
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

We are concerned that making local school board property tax increases subject to referendum would destabilize funding mechanisms for public schools.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support the maintenance of a stable and adequate funding mechanism to support public education based on the following principles: enrollment growth

HB0162 | Period Products in Schools

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires local school boards and charter school governing boards to provide period products in certain restrooms within all school facilities.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires local school boards and charter school governing boards to provide period products in certain restrooms within all school facilities.

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 24, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 14
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

One of the main reasons for absenteeism for teenaged girls in Utah schools is lack of access to feminine products and the ability to purchase them. This also causes anxiety and depression. Providing feminine products at school will improve equity between boys and girls.

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies encourage district school boards or charter school boards to adopt policies to examine their own chronic absenteeism data; implement prevention programs, positive support, and outreach strategies and services for students and families; and develop community-wide awareness strategies to address chronic absenteeism

That Utah PTA support programs that help mentoring families, including those that focus on the individual or family for a significant amount of time, teaching parenting skills, promoting continuing education, encouraging good health care for themselves and their children, and helping children succeed in school.

HB0163 | Protecting Student Religious and Moral Beliefs Regarding Athletic Uniform Requirements

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses requirements for uniforms worn while participating in certain school athletic activities.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Provides that certain associations and educational organizations may not prohibit a student athlete from wearing religious clothing, or other clothing consistent with the student athlete's beliefs, while participating in an athletic activity

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 49
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Uniform requirements would not be allowed to prohibit participants from wearing religious clothing on or under the uniform. Students would also be allowed to wear clothing on or under the uniform to cover or conceal body parts they would not like exposed for moral reasons

Commission: 
Individual Development
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations call on state, district and local leaders to uphold the value of diversity and multiculturalism as an asset to our state, our communities and our classrooms by seeking out ways to welcome and support refugee students and families to integrate as part of our school community;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

3. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. Support policies which will increase family and community engagement and promote local positive parental involvement across the state of Utah.

HB0167S01 | State Child Care Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses on-site child care for state employees.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This Bill:
13 ▸ creates the State Child Care Pilot Program (pilot program) within the Division of
14 Human Resource Management to allow certain state agencies to contract with a
15 child care provider to establish an on-site child care center for the agency's
16 employees in a facility owned or operated by the agency;
17 ▸ requires a child care provider that establishes an on-site child care center under the
18 pilot program to maintain liability insurance coverage;

The 1st substitution made changes so it is funded by those using the child care services rather than by the state.

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 15, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 37
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

This program will study the efficacy of on-site child care. If successful it will help improve care for your children.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage more public and private efforts to provide after-school care; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA support appropriate regulations to ensure quality child care; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage business and community groups to support child care; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage affected agencies to examine existing policies and create new policies which will better serve the needs of both children and parents; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA help to educate parents concerning the dangers of leaving all schoolchildren unattended, even if the children appear to be mature and have learned survival skills

HB0168 | Artificial Intelligence in Education

Description
General Description: 

This bill establishes a task force to guide the implementation and use of artificial intelligence in Utah's education system.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill establishes a task force to guide the implementation and use of artificial intelligence in Utah's education system.

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 07, 2025
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 15
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support w/ Comment

The Utah PTA supports HB 168, which establishes the Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force.We recognize the importance of exploring AI’s role in education to enhance learning, improve equity, and protect student privacy. However we strongly recommend increasing the representation of classroom teachers on the task force. Currently the bill provides for only one teacher, but to ensure that AI policies and guidelines reflect the diverse needs of Utah’s students, teachers from elementary, middle and high schools should be
included. These educators bring firsthand knowledge of the unique challenges and
opportunities present at different grade levels, which is critical for developing thoughtful and
practical AI policies. We urge lawmakers to consider expanding teacher representation on the
task force to create a more inclusive and well- rounded perspective as Utah moves forward in
shaping AI’s role in education.

Impact on Children: 

Creating a task force to address and understand the issues and concerns of Artificial Intelligence and its effects on children in the public school system is necessary and important. With the regular increase of AI's potential for good and bad in our public schools, increased vigilance and knowledge is critical for the safety and health of our children.

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations be familiar with advances in technology, social networking, digital devices, applications (apps), gaming technologies, etc., their uses, and the potential impact on the safety and development on youth and teens

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Address threats to the safety and well-being of children that can happen online, such as cyberbullying, exploitation, criminal activity and violence.