Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 381 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Welton, Douglas R.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/24/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• adds a social studies graduation requirement;
• requires certain social studies related instruction;
• extends a deadline for certain instructional materials recommendations;
• removes a testing requirement;
• provides for alternatives to portions of certain graduation requirements; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

24
53E-4-204
53E-4-204.1
53E-4-205
53E-4-205.1
53E-4-205.2
0
Civics Education Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Douglas R. Welton
Senate Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore
Cosponsor:
Katy Hall
Michael J. Petersen
Tiara Auxier
Jon Hawkins
Candice B. Pierucci
Jefferson S. Burton
Sahara Hayes
Jake Sawyer
Tyler Clancy
Ken Ivory
David Shallenberger
Paul A. Cutler
Michael L. Kohler
Lisa Shepherd
Jennifer Dailey-Provost
Jason B. Kyle
Andrew Stoddard
Ariel Defay
Trevor Lee
Jason E. Thompson
Rosalba Dominguez
Anthony E. Loubet
Raymond P. Ward
Joseph Elison
Carol S. Moss
Stephen L. Whyte
Doug Fiefia
Doug Owens
Matthew H. Gwynn
Karen M. Peterson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends certain graduation requirements.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
adds a social studies graduation requirement;
requires certain social studies related instruction; 
extends a deadline for certain instructional materials recommendations;
removes a testing requirement;
provides for alternatives to portions of certain graduation requirements; and
makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-4-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 346, 527
53E-4-204.1
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 20
53E-4-205
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 114
ENACTS:
53E-4-205.2
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
REPEALS:
53E-4-205.1
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Third Special Session, Chapter 10
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53E-4-204
 is amended to read:
53E-4-204
. Standards and graduation requirements.
(1)
The state board shall establish rigorous core standards for Utah public schools and 
graduation requirements under Section 
53E-3-501
 for grades 9 through 12 that:
(a)
are consistent with state law and federal regulations;
(b)
use competency-based standards and assessments;
(c)
include instruction that stresses general financial literacy from basic budgeting to 
financial investments, including bankruptcy education and a general financial literacy 
test-out option;
 and
(d)
include graduation requirements in language arts, mathematics, and science that 
exceed:
(i)
3.0 units in language arts including up to 0.5 units emphasizing verbal 
communication completed in a course or a school sponsored activity;
(ii)
2.0 units in mathematics; and
(iii)
and 2.0 units in science
.
; and
(e)
include a graduation requirement in social studies that is equal to or exceeds 3.5 
units, including at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and 
citizenship as described in Section 
53E-4-205.2
;
(f)
ensure up to 0.5 units described in Subsection (1)(e) may be earned by:
(i)
completing a course or a school sponsored activity emphasizing verbal 
communication provided that a significant portion of the course or activity is 
dedicated to civic education, including:
(A)
policy analysis;
(B)
governmental systems; and
(C)
civic engagement; or
(ii)
participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps described in 10 U.S.C 
Sec. 2031.
(2)
The state board shall establish competency-based standards and assessments for elective 
courses.
(3)
The state board shall study requiring all LEAs to issue a high school diploma to students 
who receive:
(a)
an associate's degree with at least 60 credit hours from an accredited post-secondary 
institution; or
(b)
an industry certification with at least 500 hours of instruction from a business, trade 
association, or other industry group in accordance with Section 
53E-3-501
.
Section 2, Section 
53E-4-204.1
 is amended to read:
53E-4-204.1
. Ethnic studies core standards and curriculum requirements.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Core standards for Utah public schools" or "core standards" means the standards the 
state board establishes as described in Section 
53E-4-202
.
(b)
"Ethnic studies" means the interdisciplinary social and historical study of how 
different populations have experienced and participated in building the United States 
of America, including the study of the culture, history, and contributions of Utahns of 
diverse ethnicities.
(c)
"Ethnic Studies Commission" means the Ethnic Studies Commission created in 
Section 
63C-28-201
.
(d)
"Utahns of diverse ethnicities" means individuals who are residents of Utah and:
(i)
Native American;
(ii)
Alaska Native;
(iii)
Native Hawaiian;
(iv)
Pacific Islander;
(v)
Hispanic or Latino;
(vi)
Black or African American;
(vii)
Asian or Asian American; or
(viii)
from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
(2)
(a)
The state board shall incorporate ethnic studies into the core standards for Utah 
public schools.
(b)
Before the state board takes formal action to incorporate ethnic studies into the core 
standards, the state board shall:
(i)
consult with the Ethnic Studies Commission; and
(ii)
submit the proposed core standards incorporating ethnic studies to the Ethnic 
Studies Commission for review and recommendations.
(3)
In incorporating ethnic studies into the core standards, the state board shall consider, at 
a minimum:
(a)
existing core standards that increase cultural awareness of, and focus on the character 
traits described in Section 
53G-10-204
 for, all Utah communities;
(b)
opportunities to recognize and incorporate into the ethnic studies core standards the 
histories, contributions, and perspectives of Utahns of diverse ethnicities; and
(c)
recommendations of the Ethnic Studies Commission.
(4)
Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall provide funding for 
professional learning in ethnic studies for teachers.
(5)
(a)
By December 31, 
2025
2027
, an LEA shall select curriculum and instructional 
materials for teaching ethnic studies to students in kindergarten through grade 12 that:
(i)
align with the core standards incorporating ethnic studies described in this section; 
and
(ii)
are integrated with regular school work.
(b)
An LEA shall implement an ethnic studies curriculum that, at a minimum:
(i)
focuses on shared identity and honoring unique cultural differences, including:
(A)
that each individual student has unique characteristics;
(B)
the common elements that unite Utahns; and
(C)
respect for distinct socio-cultural identities; and
(ii)
includes themes including cultural histories within the context of United States 
history and global history.
(c)
An LEA shall:
(i)
modify or revise as needed the ethnic studies instructional materials and 
curriculum the LEA selects as described in Subsection (5)(a), to ensure alignment 
with core standards incorporating ethnic studies; and
(ii)
submit a report to the state board that provides evidence that the LEA is 
complying with the requirements of Subsections (5)(a) and (b).
(d)
In fulfilling the requirements of this section, an LEA may offer a course on ethnic 
studies.
(6)
The state board shall, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative 
Rulemaking Act, make rules:
(a)
to develop guidelines and methods for LEAs to more fully incorporate ethnic studies 
into other core standards for Utah public schools courses; and
(b)
for the report described in Subsection (5)(c).
(7)
The guidelines and methods described in Subsection (6)(a) may not change:
(a)
the number of instructional hours required for elementary and secondary students; or
(b)
the number of instructional hours dedicated to the existing curriculum.
Section 3, Section 
53E-4-205
 is amended to read:
53E-4-205
. American civics education initiative for adult education.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Adult education program" means an organized educational program below the 
postsecondary level, other than a regular full-time K-12 secondary education 
program, provided by an LEA or nonprofit organization that provides the opportunity 
for an adult to further the adult's high school level education.
(b)
"Basic civics test" means a test that includes 50 of the questions on the civics test 
form used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services:
(i)
to determine that an individual applying for United States citizenship meets the 
basic citizenship skills specified in 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1423; and
(ii)
in accordance with 8 C.F.R. Sec. 312.2.
(2)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection 
(2)(b)
, the 
The 
state board shall require
:
(i)
a public school student who graduates on or after January 1, 2016, to pass a basic 
civics test as a condition for receiving a high school diploma; and
(ii)
a student enrolled in an adult education program to pass a basic civics test as a 
condition for receiving an adult education secondary diploma.
(b)
The state board may require a public school student to pass an alternate assessment 
instead of a basic civics test if the student qualifies for an alternate assessment, as 
defined in state board rule made in accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act
.
(3)
An individual who correctly answers a minimum of 35 out of the 50 questions on a 
basic civics test passes the test and an individual who correctly answers fewer than 35 
out of 50 questions on a basic civics test does not pass the test.
(4)
In accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
, the 
state board shall make rules that:
(a)
require an LEA that serves secondary students to administer a basic civics test or 
alternate assessment to a public school student enrolled in the LEA;
(b)
(a)
require an adult education program provider to administer a basic civics test to 
an individual who intends to receive an adult education secondary diploma;
 and
(c)
(b)
allow an individual to take a basic civics test as many times as needed in order 
to pass the test
; and
.
(d)
for the alternate assessment described in Subsection 
(2)(b)
, describe:
(i)
the content of an alternate assessment;
(ii)
how a public school student qualifies for an alternate assessment; and
(iii)
how an LEA determines if a student passes an alternate assessment.
Section 4, Section 
53E-4-205.2
 is enacted to read:
53E-4-205.2
. American constitutional government and citizenship course 
standards.
(1)
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, and as part of the social studies requirement 
established under Section 
53E-4-204
, the state board shall require instruction on 
American constitutional government and citizenship.
(2)
In accordance with Subsections (3) and (4), the state board shall create standards for the 
course required under Subsection (1) that:
(a)
examine American founding principles, including:
(i)
classical republicanism, natural rights, and colonial religious traditions; and
(ii)
the text and principles of the Declaration of Independence and relationship to the 
United States Constitution;
(b)
examine the text of the United States Constitution, including:
(i)
structure, powers, and limits of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; 
and
(ii)
the principles and operation of federalism and the state constitutional tradition;
(c)
examine the development of the United States Constitution through amendments, 
including:
(i)
the creation and application of the Bill of Rights;
(ii)
the adoption and enforcement of the Civil War and Reconstruction Amendments; 
and
(iii)
the adoption and enforcement of the other voting rights amendments; and
(d)
examine the practice of self-government at the state and local level, including:
(i)
the Utah Constitution and local government, including counties, municipalities, 
and tribal governments;
(ii)
state and local elections, including the current candidate nomination and 
selection; and
(iii)
the responsibilities of citizenship and participation in civil society.
(3)
The course described in this section shall prioritize a close reading of the following 
primary source documents:
(a)
the Mayflower Compact;
(b)
the Declaration of Independence;
(c)
the Iroquois Constitution;
(d)
the United States Constitution;
(e)
George Washington's Farewell Address;
(f)
selected passages from the Federalist and Antifederalist Papers;
(g)
the Articles of Confederation;
(h)
speeches of Frederick Douglass;
(i)
the Lincoln-Douglas Debates;
(j)
speeches of Abraham Lincoln;
(k)
the Seneca Falls Declaration;
(l)
the Letter from Birmingham Jail;
(m)
the Utah Constitution; and
(n)
other essential documents from American constitutional history.
(4)
The state board shall, in collaboration with the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative 
within the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University, develop 
standards that fulfill the requirements of this section.
Section 5, 
Repealer.
Waiver of basic civics test graduation requirement.
Section 6. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
3-14-25 11:08 AM