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House passes Pledge-of-Allegiance classroom requirement after emotional floor debate
Summary
The House passed Senate Bill 223 requiring classroom-level Pledge of Allegiance participation be made available and teacher-led; supporters said it fosters patriotism, opponents warned it undercuts local control and could prompt litigation.
The Utah House passed Senate Bill 223 on March 6 to require that each classroom have the Pledge of Allegiance and to encourage teacher-led, voluntary participation and related instruction.
Representative Wright, the sponsor, said SB 223 "makes a a small step forward and something we already have in the state statute," explaining the bill mirrors legislative practice and asks teachers to engage students in the pledge if students opt in. Opponents argued the bill erodes local school-board authority and could compel uniformity where community discussion belongs; Representative Powell said he "cannot support this bill" because it removes a role local officials should perform.
Other debate covered constitutional, pedagogical, and practical considerations, and worry about litigation costs if a lawsuit occurs. The House recorded a final tally after permitting one representative to change his vote; the measure passed 48–25 (final tally recorded as 48 yes, 25 no after a late change).
The bill will be returned to the Senate for further action.
