Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

SB 69 — School Device Revisions

Last action — Governor Signed

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 02, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 18, 2026.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

59 added · 84 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill SB 69, new provisions have been added that allow schools to create policies regarding when students can use cellphones, smart watches, and other emerging technologies during school hours. This includes the possibility for parents to request specific accommodations for their children to use these devices in designated areas during non-instructional times. Additionally, schools can extend their restrictions on device usage to non-classroom times, like during lunch and transitions between classes. These changes are important because they give schools more flexibility in managing technology use while also considering individual student needs.

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SB0069S02 compared with SB0069 {Omitted text} shows text that was in SB0069 but was omitted in SB0069S02 inserted text shows text that was not in SB0069 but was inserted into SB0069S02 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy S.B.
This document is provided to assist you in your comparison of the two bills.
69 School Device Revisions GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Sometimes this automated comparison will NOT be completely accurate.
Lincoln Fillmore House Sponsor:
Therefore, you need to read the actual bills.
Doug Welton 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
This automatically generated document could contain inaccuracies caused by:
limitations of the compare program;
bad input data;
or other causes.
School Device Revisions GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Lincoln Fillmore House Sponsor:Doug Welton 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
S Utah Code Sections Affected:
Utah Code Sections Affected:
B AMENDS:
AMENDS:
53G-7-227 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9 6 SB0069 compared with SB0069S02 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
53G-7-227, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
53G-7-227.
53G-7-227 .
(a) (i) "Cellphone" means a handheld, portable electronic device that is designed to be operated using one or both hands and is capable of transmitting and receiving voice, data, or text communication by means of:
(a)(i) "Cellphone" means a handheld, portable electronic device that is designed to be operated using one or both hands and is capable of transmitting and receiving voice, data, or text communication by means of:
or [(iii)] (C) any other wireless technology.
or S.B.
69 Enrolled Copy [(iii)] (C) any other wireless technology.
or] [(F) independent study time occurring outside scheduled instruction.] - 2 - SB0069 compared with SB0069S02 [(d)] (b) (i) "Emerging technology" means any other device that has or will be able to act in place of or as an extension of an individual's cellphone.
or] [(F) independent study time occurring outside scheduled instruction.] [(d)] (b)(i) "Emerging technology" means any other device that has or will be able to act in place of or as an extension of an individual's cellphone.
(ii) monitor an individual's health informatics;
- 2 - Enrolled Copy S.B.
69 (ii) monitor an individual's health informatics;
[(2)] (3) (a) [An] Notwithstanding this section, an LEA:
[(2)] (3)(a) [An] Notwithstanding this section, an LEA:
and (ii) in addition to the exceptions described in Subsection (3)(a)(i), may establish a policy that provides for other circumstances when a student may use a cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology during the school day.
and (ii) in addition to the exceptions described in Subsection (3)(a)(i):
(A) may establish a policy that provides for other circumstances when a student may use a cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology[.] during the school day;
and (B) shall establish a policy that allows a parent to request an accommodation for the parent's student to briefly use a cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology in a specified area the school designates during non-instructional time.
- 3 - SB0069 compared with SB0069S02 (i) extend restrictions on student use of cellphones, smart watches, or emerging technologies to non-[classroom] school hours[ during the school day], including[:] [(A) lunch periods;] [(B) transition times between classes;
(i) extend restrictions on student use of cellphones, smart watches, or emerging technologies to non-[classroom] school hours[ during the school day], including[:] [(A) lunch periods;] [(B) transition times between classes;
[(3) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a student may not use a cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology at a school during classroom hours.] (4) (a) Notwithstanding Subsections (2) and (3), a parent or legal guardian of a student may submit a written opt-out request to the LEA.
[(3) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a student may not use a cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology at a school during classroom hours.] (4) The state board may create one or more model policies regarding when a student may use a student's cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology in a school during [ - 3 - S.B.
(b) Upon receipt of a written opt-out request under Subsection (4)(a), an LEA shall permit the student to possess and use the student's cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology:
69 Enrolled Copy classroom] school hours consistent with this section.
(i) outside of instructional time, including:
(A) passing periods;
(B) lunch periods;
(C) release time;
and (D) before and after the school day;
and (ii) in a manner that does not materially disrupt instruction or LEA operations.
(c) An LEA may not require a student to have an individualized education program, Section 504 accommodation plan, medical accommodation, or special education designation as a condition for granting a parental opt-out under this Subsection (4).
(d) An LEA may continue to prohibit a student's use of a cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology during instructional time, except as otherwise permitted by a teacher for instructional purposes.
(e) An LEA may adopt rules limiting use under this Subsection (4) to designated areas of LEA property.
[(4)] (5) The state board may create one or more model policies regarding when a student may use a student's cellphone, smart watch, or emerging technology in a school during [classroom] school hours consistent with this section.
Effective date.
Effective Date.
- 4 - SB0069 compared with SB0069S02 Effective Date.
2-18-26 5:56 PM - 5 -
- 4 -
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View plain text versions (8)

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Utah Code as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill changes the definition of prohibited device use from during instructional time to during the entire school day.

  • 53G-7-227

    during instructional time → during the school day

    This broadens the scope of time when device usage is prohibited for students.

  • 53G-7-227

    during classroom hours → during school hours

    This change standardizes and clarifies the timing terminology for prohibited device use.

  • 53G-7-227

    An → Notwithstanding this section, an

    This introduces a transition phrase to clarify the conditions under which exceptions can be made.

Amendments

1 amendment

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. Senate/ to Governor

  3. Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing

  4. Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing

  5. Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate

  6. Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared

  7. Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling

  8. Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

  9. Senate/ received from House

  10. House/ to Senate

  11. House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

  12. House/ received from Senate

  13. Senate/ to House

  14. Senate/ concurs with House amendment

  15. Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar

  16. Senate/ received from House

  17. House/ to Senate

  18. House/ passed 3rd reading

  19. House/ floor amendment

  20. House/ 3rd reading

  21. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0069S02

  22. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0069S02

  23. House/ 2nd reading

  24. House/ committee report favorable [House Education Committee]

  25. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Education Committee]

  26. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0069S02

  27. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0069S02

  28. House/ to standing committee [House Education Committee]

  29. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  30. House/ received from Senate

  31. Senate/ to House

  32. Senate/ passed 3rd reading

  33. Senate/ uncircled

  34. Senate/ circled

  35. Senate/ 3rd reading

  36. Senate/ passed 2nd reading

  37. Senate/ uncircled

  38. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0069S01

  39. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0069S01

  40. Senate/ circled

  41. Senate/ 2nd reading

  42. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  43. Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Education Committee]

  44. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]

  45. Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]

  46. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0069S01

  47. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0069S01

  48. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Education Committee]

  49. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  50. Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  51. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0069

  52. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0069

  53. Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research

  54. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0069

  55. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0069

  56. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  57. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 102 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (102)

102 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 102 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 69?
SB 69 is sponsored by Doug Welton (Republican) and Lincoln Fillmore (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 69?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 02, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 69?
Track SB 69 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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