Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah SB297: School Social Worker Amendments
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill amends provisions related to a social service worker in a public school.
What the bill says
From the substitute text, February 19, 2026:
0 School Social Worker Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Emily Buss House Sponsor: Sahara Hayes LONG TITLE General Description: This bill amends provisions related to a social service worker in a public school. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - amends a definition related to personnel providing health and counseling support to a student; - requires the State Board of Education to provide certain guidance based on requirements the Division of Professional Licensing sets; and - makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 53F-2-415 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 53F-2-415 is amended to read: 53F-2-415 . Student health and counseling support -- Qualifying personnel -- Distribution formula -- Rulemaking. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Behavioral health support personnel" means an individual who: (i) works under the direct supervision of qualifying personnel to: (A) support and track a student's progress and access to and completion of school curriculum; and (B) support students by prompting, redirecting, encouraging, and reinforcing positive behaviors; (ii) is not certified or licensed in mental health; and (iii) meets the professional qualifications as defined by state board rule. …
Sponsors
- Buss, Emily (I, 11) · primary sponsor
- Hayes, Sahara (D, 32)
Latest actions
- : Senate/ filed
- : Senate/ received from House
- : House/ to Senate
- : House/ strike enacting clause
- : House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules
- : House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
- : House Comm - Held
- : House Comm - Not Considered
- : House/ to standing committee
- : House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
Votes
- Senate/ passed 3rd reading (February 27, 2026): 26 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 2nd reading (February 26, 2026): 29 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation (February 19, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 19, 2026): 3 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: Government Operations (State Issues), School Finance, State Board of Education, Education, K-12 Education, School Districts, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), School Personnel
Common questions
- What is SB297?
- SB297 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): School Social Worker Amendments.
- What does SB297 do?
- This bill amends provisions related to a social service worker in a public school.
- What is the status of SB297?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: Senate/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB297?
- Buss, Emily (I, 11), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB297?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0297.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.