House rejects substituted health-education amendments after heated floor debate

The Utah House on Feb. 26 rejected a substituted version of House Bill 177 that would have required the State Board of Education and the Department of Health to develop optional, age‑appropriate curriculum covering coercion, grooming strategies and healthy boundaries.

Representative Sue Duckworth Moss (presenting the substitute) said the changes add modest, targeted instruction—one hour in seventh grade and one hour in eleventh grade—designed to equip students with skills to recognize and resist coercion. “The standards stay the same. It would add a little bit to the curriculum, but critical information,” she said, adding that parents would be able to review materials and opt their children in.

Supporters including Representative Brian King described the proposal as narrowly focused and said some persistent claims about outside organizations and graphic materials circulating in public messages were inaccurate. “Planned Parenthood is not behind this bill,” King said, calling certain claims false and urging colleagues to examine the statutory language.

Opponents criticized the speed of substitutions and expressed concern about language and instructional scope. Representative Nelson objected to the process—saying substitutions arrived after brief notice—and cautioned that topics implicating the legal concept of consent are complex and not easily taught to middle‑school students.

The House voted to substitute and consider the fourth substitute, but final passage failed on the floor, 31 yes to 39 no. The bill will be referred to staff for filing.