Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB518: School Curriculum Amendments
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill modifies requirements for social studies education in elementary and secondary schools.
What the bill says
From the substitute text, February 23, 2026:
0 School Curriculum Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Doug Welton Senate Sponsor: John D. Johnson LONG TITLE General Description: This bill modifies requirements for social studies education in elementary and secondary schools. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - requires American constitutional government and citizenship to be taught as two distinct semester courses; - requires United States history to be taught as two distinct semester courses; - prohibits students from taking the same semester course twice to meet graduation requirements; - requires literacy coaches to support the integration of social studies content into literacy instruction; - requires regular social studies instruction for elementary grades; - allows social studies instruction to be delivered through integrated instruction with English language arts and mathematics; - requires implementation by July 1, 2031; - repeals an adult education citizenship test; - defines terms; 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-3-1002 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 285 53E-3-1004 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 285 53E-4-204 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 142 ENACTS: 53E-4-205.3 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 REPEALS: 53E-4-205 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 142 …
Sponsors
- Douglas Welton (R, 65) · primary sponsor
- Johnson, John D. (R, 3)
Latest actions
- : House/ filed
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
- : Senate/ strike enacting clause
- : Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- : Senate/ received from House
- : House/ to Senate
- : House/ held
- : House/ passed 3rd reading
- : House/ 3rd reading
Votes
- House/ passed 3rd reading (March 3, 2026): 66 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 27, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: State Board of Education, Education, Standards and Curriculum, K-12 Education, Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
Common questions
- What is HB518?
- HB518 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): School Curriculum Amendments.
- What does HB518 do?
- This bill modifies requirements for social studies education in elementary and secondary schools.
- What is the status of HB518?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: House/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB518?
- Douglas Welton (R, 65), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB518?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0518.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.