Legislative Bills

Primary tabs

HB0434 | Parent and Student Rights and School Safety Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends requirements for a local education agency (LEA) to address bullying incidents.

Highlighted Provisions: 

15 ▸ clarifies that a school may share certain information regarding an incident of
16 bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, or retaliation with a parent upon
17 request;
18 ▸ requires a school to provide regular communication updates to a parent regarding
19 the implementation of an action plan to address an incident of bullying,
20 cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, or retaliation;
21 ▸ requires an LEA to designate an individual for bullying incident response and
22 outlines the individual's duties;
23 ▸ requires civil rights law training for LEA employees

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 21
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.
This bill will help prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a bullying prevention strategy.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage local units to work with the school administration to establish a school climate that clearly and emphatically disapproves of bullying; and be it further

Resolved, That each local unit work with the school administration to develop a school program in compliance with district policies, designed by the entire school community, including parents, teachers, students, professional staff, custodial staff and others, that includes a list of rules, posted in each classroom, against bullying to create a school climate where bullying is not tolerated; and be it further

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations support policies and programs that address the prevention, intervention, and elimination of bullying; and

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations endeavor, via educational literature, programs, and projects for parents, students, and school personnel, to bring about an atmosphere of zero tolerance for bullying behavior, and an attitude that bullying behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in homes, schools, playgrounds, buses, school activities, or any place children congregate

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.
To bring in to closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate more intelligently in the education of children and youth.
To develop, between educators and the general public, such united efforts as will secure, for all children and youth, the highest advantages in physical, social, and spiritual education.

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.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

2. HEALTH. Support legislation that addresses mental health needs of Utah’s children and families by increasing education and awareness of current statewide mental health issues; and providing funding for prevention, early intervention, and evidenced-based community outreach programs.

HB0437S03 | Interdicted Person Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill provides that an individual convicted of driving under the influence may be designated as an interdicted person.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill provides that a person convicted of driving under the influence may be designated as an interdicted person and is prohibited from purchasing alcohol for a certain time period;

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
House/ to Governor
Last Action: 
Mar 12, 2025
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 43
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill will help keep children safer because it will allow the courts to designate a person convicted of DUI to be designated as an interdicted person and not allow them to purchase alcohol.

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

National PTA Resolution on ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS REGARDING ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations will support strict enforcement of driving under the influence laws and the passage of more stringent laws that would remove from the road drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

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

HB0438 | Electronic Cigarette Requirements

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to the provision of electronic cigarette products.

Highlighted Provisions: 

sets a limit for nicotine content for an electronic cigarette product that may be sold
in the State at 3%

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 54
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

E-cigarettes are the most used tobacco products by our students. The nicotine they contain are harmful to the teenage brain. It’s highly addictive, impacts their emotional well-being, and studies have shown that it causes a cycle of depression that the user feels can only be relieved by increased usage.

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

Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS product

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

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

HB0444 | School Personnel Communications with Parents Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to school personnel communications with parents.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 12, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 63
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Requires school personnel to communicate with parents regarding concerns about student mental health/wellness and learning needs.

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

Utah PTA Resolution 2013-1 Family Engagement - Resolved, That Utah PTA support policies of the State Board of Education and local school districts that result in practices that encourage parental engagement in education.  

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

Utah PTA Legislative Priority #5. Support additional funding to help with the overwhelming mental health crisis including, but not limited to: programs and classes including art, music, civic, character, and physical education; more school psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers; and professional development.

HB0448 | State Water Program Reporting Requirements

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses reporting regarding legislative water optimization efforts.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill addresses reporting regarding legislative water optimization efforts to ensure transparency and effectiveness.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 19
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

There are many legislative efforts happening all over the state to optimize conserving water. This bill would require a review of those efforts and suggested changes if the programs are not operating effectively to ensure the best conservation efforts possible

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

The Right's of Utah's Children to a Sustainable Healthy Environment Position Statement

Utah PTA is committed to supporting policies that encourage efficient water management and promoting water conservation practices in our communities, (including educating children and families about responsible water usage);

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.