Senate approves school firearms-safety pilot, shifts $75,000 to education fund

The Utah Senate approved a first substitute to Senate Bill 43, a measure described on the floor as a pilot program for firearms-safety and violence prevention in public schools. The first substitute clarifies that any instructional video material must be politically neutral and allows the use of video or online resources for instruction to avoid removing classroom time.

Sponsor Senator Weider told the Senate the program remains voluntary at every level and is not mandatory. He described the training focus as teaching knowledge, habits, skills and attitudes for safe firearm handling, as well as instructing students "not to touch a firearm and to tell an adult about the firearm and the location of the firearm." The first substitute also keeps the program opt-in.

An amendment distributed on the floor changed the funding source for the pilot from the General Fund to the Education Fund and allocated $75,000 for implementation. Senator Weider asked for a yes vote on the amendment to move that $75,000 into the education fund; he said a no vote would keep the funding in the General Fund.

During brief floor discussion Senator Dayton asked whether already-available programs (for example, programs produced by the NRA) could be used; Senator Weider answered, "It would, yes." After votes on the substitute and amendment, the bill passed third reading and will be transmitted to the House.

The floor debate emphasized the bill is a limited, opt-in pilot intended to provide safety information rather than mandate curriculum or introduce firearms into classrooms.