HB 218: Digital Skills Amendments - Utah

Amended 2/5/2026 10:02:340 → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's digital education laws to modernize curriculum requirements and administrative structures. It renumbers the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program to align with new digital skills standards and clarifies definitions to better reflect current technology needs.

Scope change

The bill shifts the focus from a general 'digital course' to a specific 'digital skills course' with defined concepts, and reorganizes the grant program's administrative definitions.

DEFINITION

Renumbered and reordered the list of 'digital skills concepts' in Section 53E-4-208 to improve logical flow and clarity, ensuring topics like AI literacy and screen time management are clearly defined.

Renumbered and reordered the list of definitions in Section 53F-2-510 to align with the new structure of the grant program.

TECHNICAL

Removed the requirement for an LEA to complete a 'digital readiness assessment' before applying for the grant, simplifying the application process.

Updated the definition of 'UETN' to include the full name 'Utah Education and Telehealth Network' for clarity.

Revised the text regarding UETN contracts and reimbursement to correct grammatical errors and improve readability.

Amended Excerpts 2/5/2026 10:02:340 → Amended 2/5/2026 10:02:340 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the requirements for Utah's mandatory digital skills course for grades 7 and 8 by replacing a single list of topics with a comprehensive set of 18 specific concepts, including new focus areas like artificial intelligence literacy and screen time management. It also establishes a formal advisory tech council to guide curriculum development and provides clearer instructions for how the state board must set course standards starting in the 2027-2028 school year.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the digital skills curriculum by adding detailed topics on AI, mental health, and digital footprints, while simultaneously creating a new advisory body to oversee technology education.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new advisory tech council with specific powers to review standards, identify resources, and advise on emerging technologies.

Replaced a brief list of digital skills topics with 18 detailed concepts, including new additions on AI literacy, screen time management, and cyberbullying prevention.

Clarified that the state board must establish specific course standards for grades 7 and 8, rather than just offering a course.

DEFINITION

Formally defined 'digital skills concepts' to include the expanded list of 18 topics.

TECHNICAL

Updated the Utah Code section 53F-2-510 to remove references to an old advisory committee and replace them with definitions for a new 'digital readiness assessment'.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/5/2026 10:02:340 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to modernize the list of digital skills concepts by adding digital accessibility and emerging technology awareness while removing the specific mention of 'short-form video platforms' from the social media section. Additionally, the requirement for the state board to establish digital skills course standards was clarified to specify that these standards must apply to courses 'taught' in grades 7 or 8, ensuring the rules apply to the actual instruction provided.

Scope change

The scope of the digital skills concepts was expanded to include accessibility and emerging technologies, while the specific application of course standards was refined to focus on instruction rather than just course offering.

DEFINITION

Added 'digital accessibility and inclusive design principles' as a required digital skills concept.

Added 'emerging technology awareness and adaptation skills' as a required digital skills concept.

Removed the specific phrase 'short-form video platforms' from the list of social media topics to allow for broader interpretation.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for the state board to establish standards for courses 'offered' to courses 'taught' in grades 7 or 8, clarifying that the standards apply to the actual instruction.

Introduced → Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to shift focus from a mandatory high school graduation requirement to a required digital skills course for grades 7 and 8. The new version removes the graduation mandate and end-of-course testing, replacing it with a requirement for the state board to establish standards for the course offered in middle school. It also replaces the oversight task force with a new 'advisory tech council' that provides guidance rather than enforcing standards, and updates related definitions in the education code.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from applying to all high school graduates (grades 9-12) to applying specifically to students in grades 7 and 8.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandatory half-credit digital literacy course as a high school graduation requirement.

Changed the requirement from a graduation mandate to a state board mandate to establish standards for a digital skills course in grades 7 and 8.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the requirement for an end-of-course assessment and the associated test-out option.

Replaced the mandatory oversight task force with a voluntary advisory tech council that offers recommendations instead of enforcing standards.

DEFINITION

Renamed the course from 'digital literacy' to 'digital skills' and removed references to 'digital literacy concepts' in favor of 'digital skills concepts'.

Updated the definition of 'non-fee course' in Section 53G-7-501 to reference the new digital skills course instead of the former digital literacy course.

TECHNICAL

Changed the Senate Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Michael K. McKell' and updated the long title description to reflect the new focus on grades 7 and 8.

Digital Skills Amendments

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