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Senate approves resolution recognizing Lin‑Manuel Miranda and encouraging age‑appropriate use of Hamilton in classrooms
Summary
Senate adopts first substitute HCR 12, a concurrent resolution recognizing composer Lin‑Manuel Miranda and encouraging, where appropriate and age‑appropriate, teachers to use Hamilton material to inspire student engagement with American history. Some senators questioned whether the chamber should send such endorsements.
The Utah Senate approved the first substitute of House Concurrent Resolution 12, a resolution recognizing Lin‑Manuel Miranda and encouraging teachers, where appropriate and age‑appropriate, to use material from the musical Hamilton to teach American history.
Senator Dabakis, the sponsor, said the resolution recognizes Miranda’s work and encourages teachers and artists to use Hamilton’s soundtrack to inspire students. He framed the resolution as bipartisan and said it could help engage youngsters with history.
Not all senators were comfortable with an official Senate endorsement. One senator said "I don't know that it's necessarily our — I think each of us individually, if we choose to, could write a letter on our stationery and send letters of approval. But I don't think that's something that we as a Senate need to be doing," and voted no. Another senator noted concerns about age‑appropriate content and emphasized the resolution’s language that encourages use "when possible and age appropriate." After floor discussion and summation by the sponsor, the Senate proceeded to a roll call and approved the resolution for final passage.
