Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 104 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Shipp, Rex P.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/27/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• requires a local education agency to provide firearm safety instruction to students;
• provides guidelines on how a local education agency may provide the firearm safety instruction;
• requires that individuals providing instruction with an actual firearm have certain authority to possess a firearm; and
• includes an opt-out provision.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

5
53E-4-207
0
Firearm Safety in Schools Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Rex P. Shipp
Senate Sponsor: Ronald M. Winterton
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses firearm safety instruction in public schools.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
requires a local education agency to provide firearm safety instruction to students; 
provides guidelines on how a local education agency may provide the firearm safety 
instruction;
requires that individuals providing instruction with an actual firearm have certain 
authority to possess a firearm; and
includes an opt-out provision.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53E-4-207
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53E-4-207
 is enacted to read:
53E-4-207
. Firearm safety minimum standards and instruction.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Firearm" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
76-10-501
.
(b)
"On or about school premises" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
76-10-505.5
.
(2)
An LEA shall, in accordance with state board standards, provide an instructional session 
on firearm safety to each grade level as described in Subsection 
(3)
.
(3)
An LEA shall present firearm safety instruction:
(a)
to a grade, at least three times, while a student is attending kindergarten through 
grade 6;
(b)
to a grade, at least twice, once while a student is attending middle school and once 
while a student is attending high school;
(c)
in a manner that is developmentally appropriate to the grade level receiving the 
instruction; and
(d)
emphasizing the best practices and guidelines for the safe handling and storage of a 
firearm to prevent accidents and ensure personal safety.
(4)
An LEA providing the instruction described in Subsection 
(3)
:
(a)
may provide the instruction:
(i)
in a public school using live instruction, a video, or online materials;
(ii)
with an existing hunter safety course;
(iii)
with the health education curriculum; or
(iv)
with the physical education curriculum;
(b)
may use firearm safety curricula and materials the attorney general's office 
previously created; and
(c)
shall ensure that any statement regarding a firearm is politically neutral.
(5)
If a firearm safety instruction under this section entails the display or functionality of an 
actual firearm on or about school premises, the LEA shall ensure that the individual who 
provides the firearm safety instruction is a person exempt from certain weapons laws as 
described in Subsections 
76-10-523(1)(a)
 through (f).
(6)
(a)
A school shall, before providing firearm safety instruction, notify a student's 
parent or legal guardian of the instruction and provide details on how to opt out.
(b)
A school may provide an alternative educational activity to a student whose parent or 
legal guardian opts the student out of firearm safety instruction.
Section 2. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
3-14-25 2:07 PM