Legislative Bills

HB0464S01 | School Materials Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions regarding student access to pornographic or indecent materials within the public education system.

Highlighted Provisions:

"▸ requires local education agencies (LEAs) to:
• add vulgarity to the definition of sensitive materials.
• engage in certain review processes when a parent communicates an allegation that an instructional material is prohibited by state law; and
• publicly vote on and explain a determination to reinstate or preserve student access to challenged instructional material;
▸ establishes the precedential effect of LEA and state board determinations;
▸ requires the State Board of Education (state board) to:
• review LEA determinations regarding certain sensitive material; and
• make rules, including to establish an age-appropriateness rating system for instructional materials;
▸ establishes a private right of action for judicial review of LEA and state board determinations regarding challenged instructional material;"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0464S01

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 03, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Local Issue

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage local and state school boards as well as school level administration and school level leadership teams to seek input from parents when developing policies to improve education.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2019-1 | Best Practices in Education

Impact on Children:

By involving parents who are reflective of the community, this bill acknowledges that addressing appropriateness is best addressed at the local level. Additionally, this bill runs the risk of futher alienating a population of vulnerable students known to prone to suicide and bullying. Finally, the introduction of the possibility of litigation is not conducive to trust and will lead to a damaged learning environment.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage local and state school boards aswell as school level administration and school level leadership teams to seek input from parents whendeveloping policies to improve education

HB0464S01 | Social Media Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill concerns harm to minors from social media.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill enacts provisions regarding harm to minors from the excessive use of algorithmically curated social media services.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0464S01

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:

SAF 2023-2 | Digital Citizenship and Wellness

Impact on Children:

This bill helps to set boundaries for children using algorithmically curated social media services. Because of the researched and documented findings correlating poor mental health with Social Media Platforms, this bill is important to help mitigate this ever-increasing crisis.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for laws, policies, and technology development which protects children and youth from surveillance capitalism, persuasive technology, and algorithms which encourage addictive usage of social media.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Technology may also give rise to digital environments that can harm children and youth. On social media, children and youth can become targets of cyberbullying, harassment and discrimination, predatory marketing, criminal and predatory activity, and encounter threats to the privacy of their personal information. Emerging research suggests that social media exposure may negatively impact mental health during an important developmental period and may undermine physical health and academic performance.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, studies have begun to uncover a link between social media use and increasing adolescent sleep problems and eating disorders and have shown that adolescents who spend more than 3 hours per day on social media may face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes.

Technology can also create digital environments that could be harmful to children and youth. PTA supports efforts to ensure a safe and positive digital experience for all children and families, fostering learning and healthy lifestyles for all children and equipping them with the technological literacy and access to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

HB0465S03 | Housing Affordability Revisions

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses funding issues related to housing affordability.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill addresses funding issues related to housing affordability. It authorizes agencies to use funding to pay for or contribute to the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of income targeted housing including requirements that state funds be spent on certain affordable housing investments. It encourages the Utah Inland Port Authority, the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, and the School Institutional Trust Lands Administration to, if appropriate, utilize land use authority to increase the supply of housing in the state.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0465S03

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 19, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

While Utah PTA supports adequate funding for federal and state housing programs that increase the number of affordable housing units including rental and homeownership options we are also resolved to encourage state and local officials to take all necessary steps to assure that management of the School Trust Lands is in accordance with trust duties and principles without compromising the revenues dedicated to the Utah's public schools.

Utah PTA Resolution:

COM 2018-1 | Homelessness and Transiency

Impact on Children:

In 2017, 35 percent of the homeless in Utah were families or children. When affordable housing is not available, family stability is affected. Families that pay more than 30 percent of their income to housing are considered cost burdened and may experience difficulties meeting other basic needs such as food, clothes, transportation, or medical care. Homelessness is devastating to the normal development and physical and mental health of a child.

Commission:

Community Engagement

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Be it resolved that Utah PTA and its constituent associations support adequate funding for federal and state housing programs that increase the number of affordable housing units including rental and homeownership options.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

1. 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.
4. Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.

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.

HB0473 | School Transit Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Transit Access Pass for Students pilot grant program (the program).

Highlighted Provisions:

Creates the Transit Access Pass for Students pilot grant program. This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to State Board of Education - State Board and Administrative Operations - Transit
Access Pass for Students as a one-time appropriation: from the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account, One-time, $7,500,000.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0473

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$7,500,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to State Board of Education - State Board and Administrative Operations - Transit Access Pass for Students as a one-time appropriation: from the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account, One-time, $7,500,000

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-2 | Chronic Absenteeism

Impact on Children:

Transportation is one of the main barriers associated with chronic absenteeism in Utah. Providing free or reduced transportation through a UTA pass for students would provide a way for families to overcome this barrier.

Commission:

Community Engagement

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage LEAs to increase engagement in school and to counterbalance and remediate the effects of chronic absenteeism during the school year with multidisciplinary strategies: targeted afterschool and summer programs; sports, and extracurricular participation; mentoring, tutoring; mental health supports, basic needs provision, and access to transportation;

HB0475S01 | School Prescription Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies provisions related to certain prescription drugs and schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

Requires certain health care providers to provide a prescription upon request to certain school employees or a school nurse for epinephrine, albuterol, and glucagon for use in an emergency situation subject to restrictions

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0475S01

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

This bill improves the safety of children with allergies or blood sugar irregularities while they are attending school, by allowing for the procurement, storage, and proper administration of life saving medication in the event of a medical emergency.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management in Schools

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations support the development, funding and implementation of school emergency response plans including food allergy guidelines and anaphylactic kits on site including the school lunchroom as well as having staff members trained in allergy symptoms and prevention techniques.

Care of School-Age Children with Diabetes
Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations urge that at least two staff members per school obtain specific training on diabetes care, diabetic emergency procedures, and identification and treatment of symptoms of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia as allowed by individual state statutes and licensures.

HB0477 | Full-day Kindergarten Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill makes full-day kindergarten available for all local education agencies with an option for half-day kindergarten.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
13 ▸ amends provisions related to scholarship amounts tied to the length of a
14 kindergarten class;
15 ▸ amends funding formulas related to kindergarten to reflect a full-day length of a
16 kindergarten class;
17 ▸ requires local education agency governing boards to provide an optional half-day
18 kindergarten class upon request;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0477

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2022-1 | Full-Day Kindergarten

Impact on Children:

Compared to half-day kindergarten, full-day kindergarten is associated with greater academic gains for students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged, multilingual learners, and other students belonging to historically underserved groups in Utah and elsewhere. Access to full-day kindergarten for all families who choose to participate will help Utah close the achievement gap between socioeconomic and ethnic groups. Full-day kindergarten is nationally and internationally recognized as educational best practice.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA supports the expansion of optional full-day kindergarten programs for students in need of support to achieve minimal learning standards and requests increased funding to support such expansion.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

1. EDUCATION FUNDING. Support an adequately funded public school system by: supporting a 6.5% WPU increase over and above growth and inflation to be used for purposes such as recruiting, supporting, and retaining teachers; supporting increased access to full-day kindergarten by funding K-12 students at a full WPU; and supporting policies to increase proficiency levels in public schools, improving attendance, and increase academic excellence for all Utah students.

HB0478S01 | Minimum Basic Tax Rate Reduction

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to the basic tax rate to fund public education.

Highlighted Provisions:

"12 ▸ amends the years in which a freeze is in effect on the minimum basic tax rate;
13 ▸ repeals the weighted pupil unit (WPU) value rate;
14 ▸ repeals a study and reporting requirement related to the WPU value rate"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0478S01

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

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2021-1 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

Less funding for public education will have detrimental impact on students' learning and performance. There is concern that our school districts are relying on additional funds to continually to implement their Teacher and Student Success Plans. The funding will continue at the current levels which will stagnate and not grow with inflation.

Commission:

Education

HB0479 | Mental Health Wellbeing in Schools Pilot Program

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a one-year pilot program to address mental health in schools.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0479

Year:

2020

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 12, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support w/ Comment

Utah PTA supports and encourages training and education on mental health, however, we believe in local decisions on programs used.

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2019-1 | Prevention & Promotion of Health Behaviors

HEA 2019-2 | Youth Suicide Prevention

Impact on Children:

Utah PTA and its constituent associations will participate and support methods to assess and recognize the risk and protective factors in their local schools, families, and communities;

Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage the Utah Legislature to provide adequate funding to provide suicide prevention programs in every district and school in the State of Utah

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That the National PTA and its branches encourage each community to make available mental health programs and services which will meet the needs of all children and youth.

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations strongly encourage efforts to establish comprehensive community mental health providers to offer preventative and treatment services to children and adults and comprehensive school mental health programs that include adequate access to school psychologists, school counselors and school social workers; and be it

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations advocate for ongoing teacher and administrator training to improve the understanding of child emotional and mental health needs with emphasis on the importance of establishing a school climate conducive to good mental health; and be it

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations promote educational programs for parents and families to strengthen understanding and supportive home environment; and be it

Resolved, The National PTA and its constituent associations support efforts to provide education and other supports for school staff and professional development to assist with addressing mental health issues with emphasis on early detection; and be it

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations support and encourage reducing the stigma of mental illness and build a of understanding around children and youth mental health.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

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

Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

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

Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

Links

Resolution on Mental Health Programs and Services

HB0483S05 | School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses provisions related to school and institutional trust lands.

Highlighted Provisions:

repeals the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office that evaluates the proper role of beneficiary advocacy

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0483S05

Year:

2025

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 27, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-1 | School Trust Lands

Impact on Children:

The beneficiaries of Utah's Trustlands are the school children of Utah. Without the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office looking out for the beneficiaries there is less protection on the trusts which could mean less money for our schools. The Advocacy office is an important check and balance in preserving the integrity and impact of the endowment for current and future beneficiaries.

Commission:

Trust Lands

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA encourage State and local officials to take all necessary steps to assure that management of the School Trust Lands is in accordance with trust duties and principles including undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries, a duty to make trust property productive, a duty to keep and render accounts, and a duty to exercise prudence and skill in administering the trust, thereby obtaining much-needed revenue for Utah's public schools;

Files

Attachment	Size
HB 483 - Talking Points.pdf	170.96 KB

HB0485 | Special Education Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill establishes a grant program to support co-teaching models for special education students.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill establishes a grant program to support co-teaching models for special education students. This bill creates the Special Education Co-teacher Pilot Program (co-teaching program); outlines the requirements for a local education agency to receive a grant under the co-teaching program; provides rulemaking authority to the state board to administer the co-teaching program; and specifies allowable uses of grant funding.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0485

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$5,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to State Board of Education - State Board and Administrative Operations - Special Education Co-teaching Program as a one-time appropriation: from the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account, One-time, $5,000,000

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2022-2 | High Expectations for Student with Disabilities

Impact on Children:

This bill would provide more opportunities for special education students to have access to co-taught classes (usually taught by a general ed teacher and a special ed teacher). These types of classes have been shown to be very effective for students with special needs and to also benefit general education students who are struggling.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations support schools in implementing best practices in meeting the needs of diverse students through such practices as inclusion, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Response to Intervention (RTI), and any other similar instructional practices to support instruction from a Core content expert, and access to accommodations including assistive technology for students with disabilities, that these students be enabled to go as far as possible toward achieving their full potential and living a meaningful, fulfilling life.

Legislative Bills

Primary tabs