HB 464: Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments - Utah

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's driver education laws to allow parents to serve as certified instructors for their own children, replacing the requirement for a state-approved driving instructor in certain scenarios. The changes expand eligibility by permitting parents to complete both classroom and behind-the-wheel training requirements, while also updating liability rules and removing redundant formatting errors from previous versions.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of who can provide driver education instruction from only state-approved instructors to include parents, specifically allowing them to teach their own children or grandchildren.

ELIGIBILITY

Parents are now authorized to complete all driver education requirements, including classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel driving hours, for their own children or grandchildren.

REQUIREMENT

Local education agencies must provide instructional materials to parents who choose to teach their children driver education.

Parents acting as instructors must sit beside the student during all driving hours, complete 40 total supervised hours (including 10 at night), and attend a Zero Fatalities Parent-Teen Night event.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'parent' was expanded to include stepparents, grandparents, and foster parents.

TECHNICAL

Corrected numerous formatting errors, redundant text, and inconsistent numbering from the previous version of the bill.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's driver education laws to formally allow parents to act as instructors for their children, removing the previous requirement for dual-control vehicles during parent-led training. It mandates that local education agencies provide instructional materials to parents and requires parents to complete specific classroom and observation hours alongside their child. The changes also update the learner permit form and add a new statute defining the parent's role and responsibilities.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of who can provide driver education by legally recognizing parents as qualified instructors, whereas previous rules primarily focused on certified driving instructors or commercial schools.

ELIGIBILITY

Parents are now explicitly authorized to complete all driver education requirements, including behind-the-wheel driving hours, for their own children.

REQUIREMENT

Local education agencies must provide instructional materials to parents to assist with classroom and driving training.

Parents acting as instructors must sit beside the student during all driving hours, complete 40 total supervised hours, and complete 6 hours of observation time.

The requirement for a dual-control vehicle is removed when a parent is providing the instruction.

DEFINITION

A new section defines 'parent' to include stepparents, grandparents, foster parents, and legal guardians.

TECHNICAL

The learner permit form is updated to include a checkbox indicating if the course was completed with a parent, and the list of affected code sections was expanded to include Section 53-3-211.

Amended 2/25/2026 15:02:182 → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's driver education laws to allow parents to act as certified instructors for their own children. It requires local education agencies to provide instructional materials to parents and adds a new section allowing parents to teach classroom requirements and behind-the-wheel driving hours. The bill also updates learner permit forms to track where education is completed and modifies liability rules for minors.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of driver education by formally recognizing parents as qualified instructors, previously limited to approved driving schools or instructors.

REQUIREMENT

Local education agencies must now provide instructional materials to parents who wish to teach their children driver education.

The learner permit application form now includes an indication of where the applicant will complete their driver education course.

Parents teaching their children must sit beside the driver during all driving hours and complete six hours of observation time.

ELIGIBILITY

Parents are now eligible to complete the classroom training and behind-the-wheel driving hours for their child's driver education requirement.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'driver education requirement' and 'observation time' to clarify parent-taught instruction standards.

TECHNICAL

Several sections were updated to correct cross-references and ensure consistency with the new parent-instructor provisions.

Amended 2/19/2026 13:02:220 → Amended 2/25/2026 15:02:182 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's driver education laws to allow parents to serve as certified instructors for their own children, replacing the requirement for a professional driving instructor or dual-control vehicle. The changes expand eligibility by permitting parents to complete all classroom and behind-the-wheel training requirements, provided they attend a specific safety night and maintain driving logs. The bill also introduces new administrative rules to track these hours and clarifies liability protections for parents acting as instructors.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of driver education from requiring professional instruction or dual-control vehicles to allowing parent-led instruction for minors.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the behind-the-wheel training requirement to allow parents to instruct their children without needing a dual-control vehicle.

Added a requirement for parents to complete six hours of observation time and attend a 'Zero Fatalities Parent-Teen Night' to qualify as instructors.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'observation time' to clarify that parents must actively comment on driving behaviors while instructing.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for the Division to create rules and forms for parents to track and submit driving hour logs.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified eligibility criteria to allow parents to sign applications and assume liability for their minor children's driving.

TECHNICAL

Made technical corrections to section numbering and formatting throughout the bill.

Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 15:02:182 → Amended 2/19/2026 13:02:220 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's driver education laws to allow parents to serve as certified instructors for their own children, replacing the previous requirement that classroom training be conducted by licensed professionals or specific local education agencies. The changes expand eligibility for parent-led instruction and update the rules for who must sit beside a learner permit holder while driving.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of driver education to include formal parent instruction as a valid alternative to traditional classroom training and licensed instructors.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new section (53G-10-509) that explicitly allows parents to complete driver education requirements as instructors for their children.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the requirements for who must accompany a learner permit holder while driving to clarify that a parent or legal guardian who is a licensed driver is an acceptable option.

Added a requirement for the Driver License Division to inform parents where to access state board materials to facilitate home study for their children.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'parent' to include stepparents, grandparents, foster parents, and legal guardians in the context of driver education.

Amended Excerpts 2/19/2026 13:02:220 → Amended Excerpts 2/25/2026 15:02:182 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to renumber sections and clarify the rules for students completing driver education via home study. The changes ensure that parents can legally provide this instruction and must now inform the Driver License Division where to access required materials. Additionally, parents providing instruction must sit beside the student during all driving hours to ensure safety and compliance.

Scope change

The scope of the bill now explicitly includes parents as eligible instructors for home study driver education, shifting the administrative responsibility from local education agencies to the Driver License Division.

REQUIREMENT

Renumbered line references from 249-254a to 209-214 to correct the bill's internal structure.

Added a requirement for the Driver License Division to inform parents where to access state board materials for home study driver education.

Clarified that parents providing instruction must sit beside the student during all driving hours to fulfill the requirement.

Added a new requirement for parents to complete and retain driving logs equivalent to those required by the state board.

Introduced → Amended Excerpts 2/19/2026 13:02:220 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This amendment updates the age for obtaining a driver's license to 15 years and six months and allows parents to serve as driver education instructors. It adds a requirement for parents to complete and retain driving logs, corrects a department reference from Public Safety to Transportation, and adjusts the minimum age for learner permits to 14 years and six months.

Scope change

The bill now applies to individuals aged 15 years and six months or older for licensure and 14 years and six months or older for learner permits, expanding eligibility for younger drivers.

ELIGIBILITY

Lowered the minimum age to apply for a learner permit from 15 years and six months to 14 years and six months.

Lowered the minimum age to obtain a driver's license from 16 years to 15 years and six months.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for parents acting as instructors to complete and retain driving logs equivalent to those required by the state board.

TECHNICAL

Changed the department responsible for 'Zero Fatalities Parent-Teen Night' from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Transportation.

Updated a reference in the statute from Subsection 53-3-211(2)(a) to 53-3-211(8) to align with the new structure of the law.

Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments

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