High School Rodeo Amendments
SB 279 adds rodeo competitions sanctioned by specific international, non-profit organizations to Utah's list of valid excuses for high school absences. The bill amends state law to explicitly include "competition in a rodeo sanctioned by an international, non-profit organization dedicated to youth sportsmanship, horsemanship, and character development" as a valid excuse. This change directly affects Utah high school students participating in these sanctioned rodeos, allowing them to miss school without facing truancy consequences. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, with no new funding required.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 14, 2025
Signed Mar 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Enrolled
·
3 edits
·
Mar 17, 2025
MINOR
This bill amends Utah's truancy laws to officially recognize rodeo competition as a valid excuse for student absences. The change expands eligibility for students who compete in sanctioned rodeo events, ensuring they can participate without facing truancy penalties. The amendment also includes technical corrections to the numbering of valid excuse categories in the statute.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include rodeo competition as an approved reason for student absence under Utah's truancy laws.
ELIGIBILITY
Added rodeo competition sanctioned by international non-profit organizations as a valid excuse for student absences
TECHNICAL
Reorganized the numbering of valid excuse categories from (vi) and (vii) to (vii) and (viii) to accommodate the new rodeo provision
Updated cross-references in the valid excuse exception clause to match the new numbering system
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
35
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Mar 17, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 8, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Mar 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
upper
Mar 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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