This bill broadens a protection for a student's sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah colleges and universities currently must excuse students from exams or academic requirements that create an undue hardship for a student's sincerely held religious beliefs, but this bill would expand and restructure those protections. It would extend accommodation rights to a student's "conscience beliefs" in addition to religious ones, and would require schools to also accommodate a student's objection to a required exam or assignment in a mandatory course for major or graduation, so long as granting it doesn't "fundamentally alter" the course as determined by an institution-designated neutral reviewer. The bill would also bar instructors from requiring students to publicly express a personal position on political, social, or moral topics (such as through letters, articles, or social media posts), and would set new notice, response, and confidentiality requirements for accommodation requests, along with a process for instructors to explain denials and have them reviewed. Finally, the Utah Board of Higher Education would be required to adopt statewide guidelines and policy parameters for these accommodations, and colleges would need to report annually on accommodation decisions and their own policies to the board.
Current version: HB0204S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 4
House Floor Vote
Feb 17
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 25
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
House Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 25
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 4
House Floor VoteFeb 17
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 25
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 5
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 6
House ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 25
This bill broadens a protection for a student's sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah colleges and universities currently must excuse students from exams or academic requirements that create an undue hardship for a student's sincerely held religious beliefs, but this bill would expand and restructure those protections. It would extend accommodation rights to a student's "conscience beliefs" in addition to religious ones, and would require schools to also accommodate a student's objection to a required exam or assignment in a mandatory course for major or graduation, so long as granting it doesn't "fundamentally alter" the course as determined by an institution-designated neutral reviewer. The bill would also bar instructors from requiring students to publicly express a personal position on political, social, or moral topics (such as through letters, articles, or social media posts), and would set new notice, response, and confidentiality requirements for accommodation requests, along with a process for instructors to explain denials and have them reviewed. Finally, the Utah Board of Higher Education would be required to adopt statewide guidelines and policy parameters for these accommodations, and colleges would need to report annually on accommodation decisions and their own policies to the board.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM