Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 204 — Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation

Last action — Governor Signed

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 08, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 25, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • 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).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

139 added · 155 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill HB 204 introduce a new requirements for notifications and a formal review process related to religious and conscience accommodations in higher education. Additionally, the scope of policies that institutions must establish has been broadened, and there is now a mandate for the Utah Board of Higher Education to adopt these new policies. This change is important because it aims to ensure that students' religious beliefs and personal convictions are respected and accommodated in academic settings, promoting a more inclusive educational environment.

→
Previous
Latest
HB0204S01 compared with HB0204 {Omitted text} shows text that was in HB0204 but was omitted in HB0204S01 inserted text shows text that was not in HB0204 but was inserted into HB0204S01 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy H.B.
This document is provided to assist you in your comparison of the two bills.
204 Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Sometimes this automated comparison will NOT be completely accurate.
Therefore, you need to read the actual bills.
This automatically generated document could contain inaccuracies caused by:
limitations of the compare program;
bad input data;
or other causes.
Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
3 LONG TITLE General Description:
Brady Brammer 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
{and} ▸ coordinates with S.B.
and ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
207, Protection from Unfair Treatment Based on Religion or Other Irrelevant Characteristics, to supersede religious provisions in S.B.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
207;
None Other Special Clauses:
and H ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
None Utah Code Sections Affected:
B Money Appropriated in this Bill:
2 None 0 HB0204 compared with HB0204S01 Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a coordination clause.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
53H-7-903 , as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 8 Utah Code Sections affected by Coordination Clause:
53H-7-903, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
53H-7-903 , as as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
53H-7-903.
53H-7-903 .
As used in this section:
(1) As used in this section:
"Conscience" means the same as that term is defined in Section 67-27-106.
H.B.
"Fundamental alteration" means a change so significant in an examination, assignment, or activity that the change:
204 Enrolled Copy (a) "Conscience" means the same as that term is defined in Section 67-27-106.
alters the essential nature, objectives, or standards of a class, program, or degree;
(b) "Fundamental alteration" means a change so significant in an examination or assignment that the change:
and negatively impacts the student's ability, as a neutral arbiter, whom the institution designates under Subsection (5)(f) determines, to:
(i) alters the essential nature, objectives, or standards of a class, program, or degree;
master essential learning outcomes of the course, program, or degree;
and (ii) negatively impacts the student's ability, as a neutral arbiter, whom the institution designates under Subsection (5)(f) determines, to:
or acquire the knowledge, skills, or competencies necessary to pass the course, program, or degree.
(A) master essential learning outcomes of the course, program, or degree;
"Matter of public concern" means speech that relates to a political, social, religious, moral, or community matter.
or (B) acquire the knowledge, skills, or competencies necessary to pass the course, program, or degree.
"Reasonably accommodate" means taking reasonable steps to modify expectations for a student's participation in an examination or other academic requirement by:
(c) "Matter of public concern" means speech that relates to a political, social, religious, moral, or community matter.
excusing participation;
(d) "Reasonably accommodate" means taking reasonable steps to modify expectations for a student's participation in an examination or other academic requirement by:
offering an alternative deadline or schedule;
(i) excusing participation;
or offering an alternative examination, assignment, or activity.
(ii) offering an alternative deadline or schedule;
{[(1)] {(2)}} [(1)] (2)[An]In accordance with Subsection (3), an institution shall:
or (iii) offering an alternative examination or assignment.
(a) { institution shall, } for any course:
[(1)] (2) [An] In accordance with Subsection (3), an institution shall:
- 2 - HB0204 compared with HB0204S01 [(a)] (i) reasonably accommodate a student's absence from an examination or other academic requirement under the circumstances described in Subsection [(2)](3) for reasons of:
(a) for any course:
[(i)] (A) the student's [faith]{religion} religious or conscience belief;
[(a)] (i) reasonably accommodate a student's absence from an examination or other academic requirement under the circumstances described in Subsection [(2)] (3) for reasons of:
[(i)] (A) the student's [faith] religious or conscience belief;
and [(b)] (ii) ensure that an accommodation described in Subsection [(1)(a)](2)(a)(i){.} does not adversely impact the student's academic opportunities[.];
and [(b)] (ii) ensure that an accommodation described in Subsection [(1)(a)] (2)(a)(i) does not adversely impact the student's academic opportunities[.] ;
and {An institution shall, } for a course that the institution mandates for graduation or for an academic major, reasonably accommodate a student's objection to a required assignment or activity for reasons of the student's sincerely held religious or conscience beliefif the requested accommodation does not create a fundamental alteration.
and (b) for a course that the institution mandates for graduation or for an academic major, reasonably accommodate a student's objection to a required examination or assignment for reasons of the student's sincerely held religious or conscience belief if the requested accommodation does not create a fundamental alteration.
Show all 80 changed rows (40 more)
Previous
Latest
[(2)] (3) An institution shall make an accommodation described in Subsection [(1)](2) if:
[(2)] (3) An institution shall make an accommodation described in Subsection [(1)] (2) if:
(a) for an accommodation described in Subsection (2)(a), the time at which an examination or academic requirement is scheduled to occur [creates an undue hardship for a student due to]conflicts with the student's sincerely held religious or conscience belief;
(a) for an accommodation described in Subsection (2)(a), the time at which an examination or academic requirement is scheduled to occur [creates an undue - 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
and (b) for any accommodation described in Subsection (2), the student provides [a written]prior notice to the instructor of the course for which the student seeks the accommodation regarding [the date of the examination or academic requirement for which the student seeks ]the request for the accommodation.
204 hardship for a student due to] conflicts with the student's sincerely held religious or conscience belief;
(4) (a) An instructor shall:
and (b) for any accommodation described in Subsection (2), the student provides a written prior notice to the instructor of the course for which the student seeks the accommodation regarding [the date of the examination or academic requirement for which the student seeks ] the request for the accommodation.
(4)(a) An instructor shall:
- 3 - HB0204 compared with HB0204S01 [(3)] (4){(5)} An institution shall establish policies and procedures, with guidance from the board, related to the accommodation described in Subsection [(1)](2) that:
[(3)] (5) An institution shall establish policies and procedures, with guidance from the board, related to the accommodation described in Subsection [(1)] (2) that:
(a) require the institution to provide the accommodation with respect to [when the student participates]the student's participation in examinations and other academic requirements;
(a) require the institution to provide the accommodation with respect to [when the student participates] the student's participation in examinations and other academic requirements;
(b) allow an instructor who receives a notice described in Subsection [(2)(b)](3)(b) to:
(b) allow an instructor who receives a notice described in Subsection [(2)(b)] (3)(b) to:
or {(ii) and} (ii) make accommodations for other academic requirements related to the accommodation;[ and] (c) require an instructor who receives a notice described in Subsection [(2)(b)](3)(b){.} to keep confidential a student's request for the accommodation[.];
or (ii) make accommodations for other academic requirements related to the accommodation;[ and] (c) require an instructor who receives a notice described in Subsection [(2)(b)] (3)(b) to keep confidential a student's request for the accommodation[.] , unless disclosure is permitted by law;
(e) outline a process by which an instructor shall, if the instructor denies the student's request for an accommodation described in Subsection (2):
(e) outline a process by which an instructor shall, if the instructor denies the student's - 3 - H.B.
204 Enrolled Copy request for an accommodation described in Subsection (2):
[(4)] (5){(6)} (a) The commissioner shall annually:
[(4)] (6)(a) The commissioner shall annually:
(i) (A){(i)} create a list of the dates of religious holidays for the following two years;
(i)(A) create a list of the dates of religious holidays for the following two years;
and [(ii)] (B) distribute the list described in this Subsection [(4)(a)]{(5)(a).} (6)(a)(i) to an institution[.];
and [(ii)] (B) distribute the list described in this Subsection [(4)(a)] (6)(a)(i) to an institution[.] ;
- 4 - HB0204 compared with HB0204S01 (b) The creation and distribution of the list described in Subsection [(4)(a)]{(5)(a)(i)} (6)(a)(i) does not prohibit a student from seeking, or an institution from granting, an accommodation for a date of a religious holiday that is not included on that list.
(b) The creation and distribution of the list described in Subsection [(4)(a)] (6)(a)(i) does not prohibit a student from seeking, or an institution from granting, an accommodation for a date of a religious holiday that is not included on that list.
[(5)] (6){(7)} An institution shall:
[(5)] (7) An institution shall:
[(b) {establish a process by which a student or educator } may submit a grievance with regards to implementation of this section;
[(b) establish a process by which a student may submit a grievance with regards to implementation of this section;
(i) the institution's religious and conscience belief accommodation policies described in Subsection [(3)]{(4)} (5);
(i) the institution's religious and conscience belief accommodation policies described in Subsection [(3)] (5);
(ii) the point of contact described in Subsection [(5)(a)]{(6)(a)} (7)(a);
(ii) the point of contact described in Subsection [(5)(a)] (7)(a);
(iii) the list described in Subsection [(4)]{(5)} (6)(a);
(iii) the list described in Subsection [(4)] (6)(a);
and (v) the grievance process described in Subsection [{(5)(b)](6)(b)} .](5)(f);
and (v) the grievance process described in Subsection [(5)(b).] (5)(f);
submit an annual report to the board, no later than December 1 of each year, detailing, for the previous academic year, any neutral arbiter decisions under Subsection (5);
(c) submit an annual report to the board, no later than December 1 of each year, - 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
and no later than December 1, 2026, report to the board the institutional policies the institution creates in accordance with Subsection (5).
204 detailing, for the previous academic year, any neutral arbiter decisions under Subsection (5);
The board shall {establish policies to} :
and (d) no later than December 1, 2026, report to the board the institutional policies the institution creates in accordance with Subsection (5).
establish policies to ensure the protection of students' sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs;and provide guidelines for the institution policies described in Subsection {(4)} (5), including parameters for the accommodations described in this section and guidance for {avoiding encroachment on } protecting a student's sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs{;
(8) The board shall:
and} .
(a) establish policies to ensure the protection of students' sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs;
and (b) provide guidelines for the institution policies described in Subsection (5), including parameters for the accommodations described in this section and guidance for protecting a student's sincerely held religious and conscience beliefs.
(9) Nothing in this section interferes with federal law.
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on {July 1, } May 6, 2026.
This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
Section 3.
- 5 -
Coordinating H.B.
204 with S.B.
207.
- 5 - HB0204 compared with HB0204S01 If H.B.
204, Higher Education Student Belief Accommodation, and S.B.
207, Protection from Unfair Treatment Based on Religion or Other Irrelevant Characteristics, both pass and become law, the Legislature intends that, on May 6, 2026, the amendments to Section 53H-7-903 in H.B.
204 supersede the amendments to Section 53H-7-903 in S.B.
207.
2-4-26 10:12 AM - 6 -
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (10)

Amendments

4 amendments

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

Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. House/ to Governor

  3. House/ received enrolled bill from Printing

  4. House/ enrolled bill to Printing

  5. Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate

  6. Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared

  7. Bill Received from House for Enrolling

  8. House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

  9. House/ received from Senate

  10. Senate/ to House

  11. Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

  12. Senate/ received from House

  13. House/ to Senate

  14. House/ concurs with Senate amendment

  15. House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar

  16. House/ received from Senate

  17. Senate/ to House with amendments

  18. Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension

  19. Senate/ floor amendment

  20. Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension

  21. Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar

  22. Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]

  23. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  24. Senate/ comm rpt/ amended [Senate Education Committee]

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

  26. Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Education Committee]

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

  28. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  29. Senate/ received from House

  30. House/ to Senate

  31. House/ passed 3rd reading

  32. House/ floor amendment

  33. House/ 3rd reading

  34. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0204S01

  35. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0204S01

  36. House/ 2nd reading

  37. House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Education Committee]

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

  39. House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Education Committee]

  40. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0204S01

  41. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0204S01

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

  43. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  44. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  45. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0204

  46. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0204

  47. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  48. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0204

  49. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0204

  50. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  51. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

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
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 HB 204?
HB 204 is sponsored by Brady Brammer (Republican) and Michael J. Petersen (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 204?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 08, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 204?
Track HB 204 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 204

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 204

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →