HB 247 Utah House · 2025 General Session

School Swimming and Lifeguarding Programs

HB 247 requires all public K-12 schools to establish mandatory swimming and lifeguarding programs. It directly affects students and school staff by mandating curriculum development, staff training in water safety, and student participation in swimming lessons. Key provisions include annual program implementation, certified instructor requirements, and annual safety reporting to the state education department. The bill is currently pending in the House after moving from the Senate (last action: March 8, 2025).

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status failed 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Amended Excerpts 2/20/2025 10:02:198 → Amended 2/20/2025 10:02:198 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify that the state board shall make standards (not rules) for water safety instruction, allowing local education agencies to offer swim instruction and lifeguard certification as physical education credit options starting in 2025-2026, and establishing specific exemptions for students with parental requests or IEPs.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly allows LEAs to provide swim instruction, lifeguard certification training, and swim instructor certification training as courses that can satisfy physical education credit requirements, expanding the scope of programs schools can offer.

REQUIREMENT

Changed language from 'rules' to 'standards' for water safety instruction development, which may affect the regulatory process and flexibility in implementation.

Added specific water safety instruction topics including safe water behaviors, water condition awareness, pool barriers, flotation devices, supervision, alcohol/substance avoidance, and emergency response techniques.

TIMELINE

Added specific start dates: water safety instruction begins in 2027-2028 academic year, while swim instruction and certification programs begin in 2025-2026 academic year.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for students whose parents request exemption or for students with IEPs where water safety instruction would be inconsistent with their individualized education plan.

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for 'lifeguard certification training', 'swim instruction', and 'swim instructor certification training' with specific skill requirements and age minimums.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ amended

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Introduced

House Comm - Amendment Recommendation

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor