Senate advances bill requiring parental involvement in school gender-transition policies

Senator Weiler told the Senate that First Substitute Senate Bill 100 would require schools to involve a parent or guardian before adopting any formal gender-transition policy that "every employee, every teacher, every staff member would be expected to follow." He said the education code already defines "parent" to include a guardian and argued the bill clarifies parental involvement rather than creating a new requirement for all districts.

"If a school is going to adopt a transition, a gender transition policy that everyone in the school... would be expected to follow, then the school would have to involve a parent or guardian," Weiler said on the floor, adding he believed the bill aligns with existing parental-rights provisions in state law and that some districts' recent changes meant the bill would not change practice in those places.

Senator Weiler waived summation and moved that the first substitute bill be read a third time. The Senate held a roll-call vote and the presiding officer announced that First Substitute Senate Bill 100 received 23 ayes and 6 nays and was ordered read a third time.

Later in the session senators also recognized Utah students participating in National History Day and welcomed Commissioner Sonia Norton of Uinta County to the gallery. The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. the next day.