Legislative Bills

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HB0449S02 | Pedestrian Safety and Facilities Act Modifications

Description
General Description: 

This bill makes changes to the Pedestrian Safety and Facilities Act.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill makes changes to include a bicyclist in the provisions of the Pedestrian Safety and Facilities Act, and adds additional safety measures for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 21, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 57
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill requires highway authorities to consider pedestrian and bicyclist safety in all highway engineering and planning projects throughout the state and its political subdivisions. It will help make it safer for children to walk or bicycle in their communities.

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

National PTA - Improved Infrastructure Around Schools Resolution

 

Resolved That PTA and its constituent associations encourage and collaborate with school administrations and local officials to bring attention to unsafe walking and biking routes to schools; and be it further Resolved That PTA and its constituent associations encourage local governments to seek out and apply for state and federal infrastructure grants, utilizing funds to build and improve infrastructure, including but not limited to sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, crossing signals, traffic signals, and street lighting; and be it further resolved, That PTA and its constituent associations urge federal, state and local governments to adopt policies that encourage transportation planners and engineers to design and improve roadways to provide safe routes to school.

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.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Child Pedestrian Safety Position Statement

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations prompt parental and local PTA engagement in reviewing and providing input about pedestrian safety for each school’s Safe Neighbor Access Program (SNAP) Plan, and encourage parent involvement in school safety committees and community councils, collaborate with government agencies; and urge local governments to rigorously enforce speed limits in the vicinity of school routes.

HB0455S02 | Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill amends provisions related to the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program.

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 06, 2025
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 49
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose

While HB 455 does address some concerns with the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, Utah PTA is categorically opposed to vouchers that take funding from public education to provide dollars that are used for private school options.

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations will always oppose funding methods that divert funds away from public education system if the accountability methods are not equal to or greater than those of public education system

Files

HB0458S03 | Child Welfare Revisions

Description
General Description: 

This bill concerns placement and adoption of a child who is involved in a child welfare case.

Highlighted Provisions: 

In regards to foster care and adoption, this bill adds language describing the kin who, in order to be considered to adopt the child, needs to show interest in the child by maintaining or trying to maintain contact with the child within 120 days on which the shelter hearing occurs.

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 4
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Utah PTA cares about what effects the whole child. This bill will take in consideration those foster families who have supported and cared for children in foster care. Utah PTA wants the best safe and emotionally supportive environment for children. This bill clarifies a timeframe and what actions kin need to take to maintain a relationship with the child.

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

That Utah PTA encourage the legislature to pass laws that will ensure that the best interests of the child be given primary emphasis in placement matters;

HB0460S01 | Settlement Fund Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses the state's proceeds from certain settlement agreements related to electronic cigarette products.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill specifies that money received by the attorney general or the Department of Commerce as a result of a judgment, settlement, or compromise of claims related to the manufacture, marketing, distribution, or sale of electronic cigarette products IF the amount exceeds $1,000,000 shall be deposited into the restricted account

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 15, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 19
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)–also known as Electronic Cigarettes (E-Cigarettes), vapes, or vape pens –may contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Nicotine has immediate bio-chemical effects on the brain and body, is toxic in concentrated doses, and has been known to affect the youth brain disproportionately. This bill requires revenue from lawsuits over e-cigarettes  to be used for cessation and prevention programs. This is critically for our youth who have become addicted to these substances. 

Commission: 
Student Leadership
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products; and, be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA support the position that any revenue generated through taxation of ENDS should support tobacco cessation and prevention programs;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.

HB0463 | Early Literacy Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to early interactive reading software for literacy instruction.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 22, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 59
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This bill will allow students who are reading beyond grade level in the 2nd and 3rd grades to use early interactive reading software to continue to advance.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage the State Board of Education and the state legislature to support funding that assists the schools in developing programs which promote the appropriate educational, social, and emotional development of gifted/accelerated learners and that such legislative support recognize that funds must be adequate to provide program development and program implementation.