UtahUtah colleges must hold public policy events and debates
Starting July 1, 2026, Utah degree-granting colleges must hold public policy events each academic year, including some debates open to students and the public.
What it does
Degree-granting colleges must hold public policy events each academic year, including some debates, seek speakers with differing views, and post a public event calendar.
Public education agencies, colleges, and state employers may not require certain identity-related statements or favor people who provide them. They may not require training that promotes prohibited discrimination.
Public schools must review club applications individually, approve clubs that meet the rules, and give written reasons when they deny a club. Parents must consent to participation.
Argument forPublic policy events could help students and neighbors hear different views, since colleges must seek varied speakers and open events to the public.
Argument againstSchools may limit or deny clubs on broad safety and conduct grounds, which could make it harder for some students to meet or express their views.
More detail
Degree-granting colleges must hold public policy events during each regular academic year. The duties apply to Utah degree-granting colleges. Events must be open to students, faculty, and staff, and to the public unless the college restricts public access to meet a compelling government need. Some events must be debates, and colleges must seek speakers with differing views. The law does not require an exact balance of viewpoints and allows events with a single perspective. These duties take effect July 1, 2026, and apply during each regular academic year.
Public education agencies, colleges, and state government employers may not require certain identity-related statements or training. The submission rules cover local public education agencies, colleges, and state government employers. Training restrictions cover public education agencies, colleges, and state government employers, with the college law separately requiring annual training on academic freedom and free speech. The submission rules concern statements about policies or programs that promote different treatment based on personal identity characteristics. They also bar giving preference to someone for providing such a statement. Federal law may require a submission; in that case, it may be accepted only as far as federal law requires. The provisions preserve policies needed to comply with state or federal law, including laws against discrimination or harassment. The training restriction applies to required training that promotes a prohibited discriminatory practice. Colleges must also annually train faculty and staff on academic freedom and free speech under state or federal law. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
Public schools must review student club applications and apply the club rules evenly. These rules cover clubs in Utah public schools, including charter schools. Noncurricular clubs are student-started groups that meet outside instructional time. Schools must review applications case by case and authorize clubs whose applications meet the applicable rules. Schools must limit or deny clubs when listed safety, student welfare, legal, or conduct grounds apply. They must give the applicant the factual and legal reason for a denial. Elementary schools may authorize only course-related clubs. Schools must obtain written parent consent for students to participate in curricular and noncurricular clubs. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 13Senate/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 13Senate/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 12Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 10Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 10Bill Received from Senate for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 10Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 10Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 7House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded Senate/ concurs with House amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 7House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 7House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 7Senate/ to House
- Mar 7Senate/ concurs with House amendmentMajor
- Mar 7Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 7Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 6House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6House/ passed 3rd readingMajor
- Mar 6House/ substituted
- Mar 6House/ motion to reconsider
- Mar 6LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0295S03
- Mar 6LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0295S03
- Mar 6LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0295S03
- Mar 6LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0295S03
- Mar 6House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Mar 6House/ floor amendment
- Mar 6House/ uncircled
- Mar 6House/ circled
- Mar 6House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Mar 5House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules [House Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 4House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Mar 4House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]
- Mar 3House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Minor
- Mar 3House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Major
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0295S02
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0295S02
- Mar 3LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0295S02
- Mar 3LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0295S02
- Mar 2House/ to standing committee [House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]Minor
- Mar 2House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 27House/ received from SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 27Senate/ to House
- Feb 27Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 27Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 27Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 27Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 20Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 20Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended [Senate Education Committee]Major
- Feb 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0295S01
- Feb 20LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0295S01
- Feb 19Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]Minor
- Feb 19Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]Minor
- Feb 19Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]Major
- Feb 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0295S01
- Feb 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0295S01
- Feb 18Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]Minor
- Feb 18Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0295
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0295
- Feb 17Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 17Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 16LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0295
- Feb 16LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0295
- Feb 16Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 16Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
EducationCivil Rights & VotingGovernment & Ethics