Utah House approves voluntary waterways curriculum after amendment barring instruction on human-caused climate change

The Utah House of Representatives on Jan. 26 approved first substitute HB 62, a bill directing Utah Waterways to develop a voluntary curriculum for K–12 teachers about Utah’s waters, the water cycle and the history of human use. Representative Owens, the bill sponsor, said the statute will make curriculum materials available to school districts and teachers.

Supporters said the measure aims to improve students’ knowledge of local water systems and resource management. “This bill directs Utah Waterways to develop a curriculum that can be used voluntarily by school districts and teachers to cover things such as Utah’s waters, the water cycle here, Utah’s waterways, the history of human use of water in Utah, and so forth,” Representative Owens said on the House floor.

An amendment added in the substitute removed proposed content relating to human-caused climate change after some members raised concerns about political or ideological framing. Representative Owens told colleagues the change was intended to reassure critics and focus the curriculum on water history and practical stewardship rather than partisan topics.

Representative Jimenez, who participated in drafting an amendment, said the sponsor and colleagues worked to ensure the curriculum acknowledges residential, industrial and agricultural water uses and the economic importance of each sector. “We wanted to make sure that when we have this discussion on water within our state, that it wasn’t a partisan issue,” Jimenez said.

The bill drew some opposition in the final vote; HB 62 passed 65 yes to 8 no and will be transmitted to the Utah Senate for further consideration. There was no recorded amendment text printed on the House floor transcript beyond sponsors’ summaries; the House recorded the sponsor’s assurance that the substitute excludes instruction “relating to human-caused climate change.”

Next steps: HB 62 moves to the Senate for committee referral and further consideration under regular legislative procedures.