# Utah S.B. 295: Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government Utah S.B. 295, Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government, is a 2026 General Session Senate bill sponsored by John D. Johnson (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-25 (Governor Signed) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB295-2026GS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah S.B. 295 - State: Utah - Session: 2026 General Session - Title: Intellectual Diversity in Education and Government - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-16 - Last action: 2026-03-25, Governor Signed - Sponsor: John D. Johnson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Education, K-12 Education, Higher Education, Utah Board of Higher Education, Colleges and Universities, Higher Education Students, On-campus Speech - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 15 (199 yes, 45 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 12 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Government workers gain statement and training protections: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered Utah government employers cannot demand prohibited identity-policy statements or favor people who provide them. This applies to covered employment and admissions-and-aid decisions; separate rules govern schools and colleges. Employers also cannot require current or p… - Schools cannot demand certain identity statements: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah colleges and local education agencies cannot demand certain statements for jobs, enrollment, graduation, programs, or state aid. These statements concern views or experience with policies promoting different treatment based on personal identity, including specified race… - Students gain fairer club membership protections: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah schools and clubs cannot restrict membership based on personal identity characteristics. Course-linked clubs cannot promote membership on that basis or require political or ideological affirmations unrelated to their academic purpose. Schools may limit membership to the… - Student support gains access and funding: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, local education agencies must give all students access to student success and support programs. They cannot exclude students based on personal identity characteristics. The Legislature must provide ongoing funding through a separate budget line for college student success an… - Students cannot earn rewards for protests: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah schools cannot award course credit, better grades, or excused absences for political advocacy, partisan activity, or public protest. This applies whether or not a student belongs to a club. Civic instruction and discussion remain allowed when advocacy or demonstrations… - Colleges expand speech access and transparency: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah colleges must open student support programs to all students and publish required course and training titles and syllabi. Colleges cannot require training that promotes a prohibited discriminatory practice. Faculty and staff must receive yearly training on academic freed… - School clubs face oversight and limits: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, schools must review club applications individually and approve clubs meeting applicable legal and school requirements. They must limit or deny clubs when needed for safety, order, student or parent rights, or legal compliance. Restrictions also cover identity-focused purpose… - Students face new club approval rules: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah separates school-sponsored, course-linked clubs from student-started clubs not tied to courses. Course-linked clubs must explain their academic connection in writing; applications include purpose, activities, category, schedule, budget, and compliance information. Local… - Parents get club details before consent: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, students need written parental consent to participate in either type of Utah school club. Consent forms must disclose the club's name, purpose, goals, activities, category, dates, tentative schedule, personal costs, and responsible staff member. A parent or club official mus… - Student clubs get equal but limited support: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah schools must treat student-started clubs equally when assigning space, meeting times, monthly hours, and communications access. Schools may provide meeting space, while course-linked clubs have priority for facilities and may receive school support. Public money general… - Colleges face reviews and funding consequences: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah's higher education board must review half of degree-granting institutions and half of technical colleges annually. Each institution receives a review every two years. After finding a violation, the board and institution must create a correction plan within 30 days. The… - Schools face new identity policy limits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Utah colleges and local education agencies cannot carry out prohibited discriminatory practices. Identity characteristics include race, color, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, and gender identity. Colleges, local agencies, and the State Board ca… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: John D. Johnson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Katy Hall (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 48 | 23 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ motion to reconsider | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 48 | 16 | | | 2026-03-06 | Senate | Senate/ concurs with House amendment | pass | 27 | 2 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-06 | House | House/ floor amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 8 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | House | House Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 8 | 0 | | | 2026-02-27 | Senate | Senate/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 22 | 3 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd reading | pass | 26 | 1 | | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation | pass | 3 | 0 | | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 6 | 0 | | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation | pass | 3 | 0 | | ## Actions (49) - 2026-03-25: Governor Signed - 2026-03-13: Senate/ to Governor (Senate) - 2026-03-13: Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2026-03-10: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2026-03-10: Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling - 2026-03-10: Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling (Senate) - 2026-03-10: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ concurs with House amendment (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ substituted (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ motion to reconsider (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ floor amendment (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ uncircled (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ circled (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2026-03-05: House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar (House) - 2026-03-03: House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules (House) - 2026-03-03: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2026-03-03: House/ comm rpt/ substituted (House) - 2026-03-03: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-03-03: House Comm - Substitute Recommendation - 2026-03-02: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2026-03-02: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2026-02-27: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-02-27: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Senate/ passed 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Senate/ 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Senate/ passed 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Senate/ 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-20: Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-02-19: Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation - 2026-02-19: Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation - 2026-02-18: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2026-03-12: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/SB0295.pdf) - Amended 3/6/2026 12:03:253, 2026-03-06: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_SB0295S02_2026-03-06_12-44-59.pdf) - Substitute #3, 2026-03-06: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295S03.pdf) - Substitute #2, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295S02.pdf) - Amended 2/20/2026 10:02:567, 2026-02-20: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_SB0295S01_2026-02-20_10-09-56.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2026-02-19: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295S01.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-16: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295.pdf) ## Related bills - H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments (signed) - H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments (signed) - H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments (signed) - H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments (signed) - H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments (signed) - H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/SB0295.pdf) - [Amended 3/6/2026 12:03:253 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_SB0295S02_2026-03-06_12-44-59.pdf) - [Substitute #3 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295S03.pdf) - [Substitute #2 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295S02.pdf) - [Amended 2/20/2026 10:02:567 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_SB0295S01_2026-02-20_10-09-56.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295S01.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/SB0295.pdf) ## Related - [H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB136-2026GS) - [H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB101-2026GS) - [H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB134-2026GS) - [H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB178-2026GS) - [H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB94-2026GS) - [H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB220-2026GS) - [Utah bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah/bills) - [Utah state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-SB295-2026GS (as of 2026-10-19).