Education (Student Health)

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 299: School Response to Sexual Offense

HB 299 requires Utah public schools to create specific policies for responding when students are arrested, charged, or convicted of serious offenses or sexual crimes. The bill clarifies that school policies must address crimes occurring both on and off school property, mandates school resource officers to provide safety input before a student's return, and requires alternative school placements if a student shares a school with a victim or someone protected by a restraining order. These policies must comply with state and federal law and apply to all Utah local education agencies (LEAs). The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to establish safety policies for students involved in sexual offenses, enhancing student health and safety within K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 227: Student Journalist Amendments

HB 227, the Student Journalist Amendments, protects student journalists' free speech rights in school-sponsored media while setting clear boundaries. It requires school boards to adopt policies ensuring students can produce content without censorship unless it violates specific limits (like obscenity, threats, or disruption), and prohibits schools from punishing advisers for supporting these rights. The bill also shields schools from legal liability for student content unless the school itself alters the material. This directly affects students creating school publications, their advisers, and school administrators who must implement these new policies by May 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student free speech rights in school media without censorship (except for obscenity/threats), strengthening educational access and academic freedom in K-12 settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

Track

passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 75: Educator Salary Adjustment Eligibility

SB 75 defines eligibility for annual educator salary adjustments by requiring a license from the Division of Professional Licensing and a position as a social worker or registered nurse in an educational setting. The bill mandates that the Legislature annually appropriate funds for these adjustments, though actual funding remains subject to budget constraints. It directly affects licensed social workers and registered nurses employed in educational roles by establishing their eligibility for potential salary increases. The bill does not guarantee specific raises but creates a framework for future budget allocations to address retention and recruitment. (Note: This bill is procedural in nature, defining eligibility criteria rather than implementing new policy.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates annual appropriations for educator salary adjustments, directly funding specific education roles within budget constraints.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual appropriations for educator salary adjustments, establishing eligibility for licensed school social workers/nurses, directly supporting educator compensation in K-12 settings.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates annual appropriations for salary adjustments for licensed social workers and RNs in schools, directly advancing wage standards for specific educational workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding Student Health Teachers

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 148: Tax Return Donation Amendments

HB 148 creates a School Meals Debt Relief Fund, allowing Utah taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the fund when filing their state income tax returns. Local school districts must report their outstanding student meal debt to the State Board of Education, which then distributes funds based on each district's proportion of total statewide school meal debt. School districts must use these funds solely to pay off unpaid student meal balances, and any unused funds must be returned within 60 days for redistribution to other qualifying districts. The program begins for tax years starting January 1, 2026, with the State Board of Education managing data collection and fund distribution.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates voluntary tax contributions to fund school meal debt relief, directly supporting public education funding through taxpayer donations without mandatory tax increases.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates School Meals Debt Relief Fund to pay unpaid student meal balances, directly relieving financial burden on school districts and freeing resources for educational purposes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Student Health

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 142: School Fee Waiver Amendments

HB 142 limits school fee waivers in Utah public schools to two trips per student annually. It requires students seeking a second waiver to develop an "action plan" with their principal, including school-related contributions like custodial work or service hours. The bill also mandates local education agencies to set caps on total fee waivers and verify student eligibility through income documentation like pay stubs. These changes directly affect students in Utah public schools who qualify for fee waivers for school-sponsored trips.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts fee waiver access by limiting to two trips annually and requiring work plans, reducing student access to school activities without increasing support or funding.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

failed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 180: School Nutrition Amendments

SB 180 redirects 10% of Utah's liquor sales revenue to the Uniform School Fund to support school meal programs. It expands eligibility for free school lunches to include students from families earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, even if they don't qualify for the National School Lunch Program. The bill requires the State Board of Education to use at least 20% of these funds specifically for free lunches for these eligible students. This policy change uses existing liquor tax revenue without new appropriations to increase access to school meals for low-income Utah students in grades K-12.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing liquor tax revenue to fund school meal programs, expanding access without new taxes or spending cuts to public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects liquor tax revenue to fund expanded school meals, increasing access for low-income students through dedicated funding allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue K-12 Education Student Health

Track

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 350: Foods Available at Schools Amendments

HB 350 amends Utah school food regulations by updating the list of prohibited additives in foods sold, donated, offered, or served during school hours. It bans items containing potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, and specific FD&C dyes (like Blue No. 1 and Yellow No. 5), directly affecting public schools. Key exceptions include parents providing these foods to students, teachers offering them with parental permission, and donated foods going to school pantries. The bill also removes a prior exception for small schools (under 5,500 students) and allows these foods to be sold at school events or in vending machines. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBans harmful additives in school foods to protect student health, directly advancing school safety within education policy as listed under Subjects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 58: Public School Attendance Amendments

SB 58 requires public schools to address chronic absenteeism and academic needs through specific, funded programs. School principals must provide written compliance assurances, and school councils must create detailed plans using allocated funds to target the school’s most critical academic needs and absenteeism. These plans must include specific programs, materials, or staff training (like attendance plans, academic recovery programs, and staff development) with measurable goals for improving student performance. The bill directly affects public schools, their councils, and principals by mandating structured, accountable approaches to attendance and academic improvement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates funded programs for absenteeism and academic recovery, requiring allocated funds and measurable goals to improve school performance per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health