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SB 268UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah Requires Public Schools and Universities to Teach Religious History and Liberty Standards

Original title: Religious Curriculum in Schools

Last action · March 25, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Todd Weiler and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Utah enacts a law requiring public schools and universities to include instruction on the role of religion in U.S. history and religious liberty within civics and history curricula starting July 4, 2026.

Why it matters

Changes curriculum standards for K-12 social studies courses and bachelor's degree requirements by mandating the inclusion of religious history and liberty topics, while ensuring student assignments are graded without religious bias.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Public school students

Students will receive instruction on religious liberty and the fundamental role of religion in U.S. history, with the option to engage with specific topics, and may express religious beliefs in coursework without penalty.

Directly affected

Local Education Agencies

LEAs must ensure that enumerated religious topics remain optional for students and provide notification of constitutional freedoms.

Directly affected

Higher education graduates

Candidates for bachelor's degrees or teaching credentials must demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental role of religion in U.S. history and religious liberty.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are students required to participate in religious instruction under this law?
No. must ensure that the topics related to religious liberty and historical religious figures are optional.
What are higher education students required to do before receiving a degree?
Students must demonstrate a reasonable understanding of the history, principles, form of government, economic system of the United States, and the fundamental role of religion and religious liberty in U.S. history.
Can school employees promote their own religious views to students?
No. School officials and employees are explicitly prohibited from using their official positions to endorse, promote, or disparage a particular religious, denominational, sectarian, agnostic, or atheistic belief or viewpoint.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

61 actions
  1. Mar 25, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to Governor
  3. Mar 13, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 11, 2026Senate Secretary
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 55 earlier actions
  1. Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
  2. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  4. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  5. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
  6. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  7. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  8. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ concurs with House amendment
  9. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  10. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  11. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    House Conference Committee - Final Passage
  12. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
  13. Mar 6, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0268S01
  14. Mar 6, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0268S01
  15. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    Conference Committee Report
  16. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    Bill Substituted by Conference Committee
  17. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0268S01
  18. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0268S01
  19. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  20. Mar 6, 2026Conference Committee
    House Conference Committee Appointed
  21. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ refused to recede from House amendment
  22. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  23. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments
  24. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  25. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  26. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  27. Mar 5, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  28. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  29. Mar 2, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  30. Mar 2, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ amended
  31. Feb 27, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  32. Feb 27, 2026House
    House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  33. Feb 26, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  34. Feb 25, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  35. Feb 25, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  36. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  37. Feb 25, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 3rd reading
  38. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate/ floor amendment
  39. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  40. Feb 24, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  41. Feb 24, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  42. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  43. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ amended
  44. Feb 13, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  45. Feb 13, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  46. Feb 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  47. Feb 9, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0268
  48. Feb 9, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0268
  49. Feb 9, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  50. Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  51. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research
  52. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0268
  53. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0268
  54. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  55. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Todd WeilerSenate · District 8RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Tiara AuxierHouse · District 4RepublicanCosponsor
Tiara AuxierHouse · District 4RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expansion of Religious Instruction in Public Education

The law mandates that public schools and universities incorporate specific instruction on religious history and religious liberty into civics and graduation standards.

State Board of EducationUtah Valley University

Connected Entities

Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative, State Board of Education, Utah Valley University and 1 more
OrganizationCivic Thought and Leadership Initiative“Assists in developing standards that fulfill the requirements of the education c”Map →
OrganizationState Board of Education“Required to create standards for American constitutional government and citizens”Map →
OrganizationUtah Valley University“Collaborates with the state board to develop course standards through its Center”Map →
OrganizationCenter for Constitutional Studies“Houses the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative at Utah Valley University.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy65
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz50
    Current news / social attention level

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