This bill modifies requirements for social studies education and establishes open education resources.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's social studies, civics, and history education standards would see substantial changes under this bill. Elementary schools would be required to provide regular social studies instruction from kindergarten through 6th grade by 2031, which could be integrated into English and math lessons, while literacy coaches in low-performing schools would also help weave social studies content into reading instruction starting in 2028. High school students would see their American constitutional government/citizenship and U.S. history requirements each split into two distinct semester courses that cannot be repeated to meet graduation requirements, and beginning in 2028-2029, secondary students would receive comparative instruction on government systems—including a detailed statutory-defined study of communism's history and human rights abuses alongside American founding principles—while students in grades 3 through 12 would study an expanded list of historical documents, including Frederick Douglass's speeches, the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, Tocqueville's writings, and the Bible's literary and historical influence on American civic thought. The bill also directs the state superintendent to develop free, openly licensed instructional materials aligned with state standards, allows local school districts to decide whether applied trade courses like electrical work count toward fine arts credit, and repeals Utah's ethnic studies core standards requirement along with certain adult education citizenship testing and planning requirements.
Current version: HB0312S06 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 22
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 12
House Floor Vote
Feb 20
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Mar 2
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 4
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 4
House Concurrence
Mar 5
Governor Signed
Mar 25
IntroductionJan 22
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 12
House Floor VoteFeb 20
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeMar 2
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 4
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 4
House ConcurrenceMar 5
Governor SignedMar 25
This bill modifies requirements for social studies education and establishes open education resources.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's social studies, civics, and history education standards would see substantial changes under this bill. Elementary schools would be required to provide regular social studies instruction from kindergarten through 6th grade by 2031, which could be integrated into English and math lessons, while literacy coaches in low-performing schools would also help weave social studies content into reading instruction starting in 2028. High school students would see their American constitutional government/citizenship and U.S. history requirements each split into two distinct semester courses that cannot be repeated to meet graduation requirements, and beginning in 2028-2029, secondary students would receive comparative instruction on government systems—including a detailed statutory-defined study of communism's history and human rights abuses alongside American founding principles—while students in grades 3 through 12 would study an expanded list of historical documents, including Frederick Douglass's speeches, the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, Tocqueville's writings, and the Bible's literary and historical influence on American civic thought. The bill also directs the state superintendent to develop free, openly licensed instructional materials aligned with state standards, allows local school districts to decide whether applied trade courses like electrical work count toward fine arts credit, and repeals Utah's ethnic studies core standards requirement along with certain adult education citizenship testing and planning requirements.
Motion: Held in Committee
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