Utah House Unanimously Advances Bill to Train Teachers on Teaching Values; Amendments Narrow Language

The Utah House on Feb. 16 passed Senate Bill 26, a measure encouraging school districts to provide in‑service training on values education, by a 59–0 vote.

Sponsor Representative Stewart framed SB26 as a noncontroversial effort to help teachers teach shared core values without crossing into prohibited religious instruction. During floor debate, lawmakers raised questions about which values would be taught and whether the program would favor particular faiths or political perspectives. Representative Stewart and others said the bill was intended to provide teachers with guidance so they could teach commonly accepted ethical concepts without risking litigation.

Lawmakers accepted a friendly amendment removing a specific reference to AIDS and replacing it with a broader phrase—"methods for preventing certain communicable diseases"—to avoid singling out one illness. The House also addressed fiscal-note concerns and the bill’s scope; members emphasized that participation in the in‑service program would remain a local school-district decision.

Representative Olson urged support and said the bill provides clarity for educators about what they can and cannot teach. "This bill provides in service to teachers to answer those questions—can I or can't I? Or what should I or how should I?" Olson said. Several members spoke in favor on both policy and pragmatic grounds, and the House adopted amendments and passed the bill by recorded voice and tally.

SB26 will proceed according to the established legislative process after passage on the floor.