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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0250" sponsor="Nicholeen P. Peck" designation="HB" otherSponsor="Daniel McCay" otherHouse="Senate" subNumber="01" subSponsor="Anthony E. Loubet" sess="2025GS" fileno="2025FL0932" date="02-21-25" printDate="02-21 11:54" subVer="1" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>6</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="07/01/2025"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C53G-10-S206_2025070120250701" fromuid="C53G-10-S206_2024050120240501" sort="53G10 02060020250701" mtype="section" effdate="07/01/2025">53G-10-206</sect><sect action="E" src="code" buid="3" uid="C67-21-S3.3_2025070120250701" sort="67 21 00030320250701" mtype="section" effdate="07/01/2025">67-21-3.3</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="5" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/07/2025"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Public Employee Gender-specific Language Requirements</st><sessionhead>2025 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Nicholeen P. Peck</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: Daniel McCay</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill prohibits certain employment action against a public employee in relation to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="6" slineno="0-6"/>gender-specific language.</gd><hphead lineno="7">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9" level="1"> prohibits the State Board of Education, a local education agency, or a public employer <ln numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10"/>from taking disciplinary action against an employee for using gender-specific language <ln numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11"/>in certain circumstances;</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12" level="1">requires a public employer that has a rule or policy requiring an employee to use <ln numlevel="1" lineno="13" slineno="0-13"/>gender-specific language to accommodate another individual to exempt the employee <ln numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14"/>from disciplinary action in certain circumstances; and</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15" level="1">makes technical changes.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="17">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18">Other Special Clauses:<ocl type="effdate" sort="2" numlevel="1" lineno="19" slineno="0-19">This bill provides a special effective date.</ocl></oc><sa numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="0-20">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="0-21"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="53G-10-206" src="code" uid="C53G-10-S206_2025070120250701" buid="1" sort="53G10 02060020250701" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="0-22"><bold>53G-10-206</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 507</sn></saamd><saent numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="0-23"><snhead>ENACTS:</snhead><sn num="67-21-3.3" src="code" uid="C67-21-S3.3_2025070120250701" buid="3" sort="67 21 00030320250701" numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="0-24"><bold>67-21-3.3</bold>, Utah Code Annotated 1953</sn></saent></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="25"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="0-26">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="53G-10-206" type="amend" src="code" uid="C53G-10-S206_2025070120250701" sort="53G10 02060020250701" numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="53G-10-206" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="27">Section 1, Section <bold>53G-10-206</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="28"><bold>53G-10-206. Educational freedom.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-1-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-3" level="1" placement="noreturn"><display>(1)</display>As used in this section:<subsection ssid="1-1-2" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-4" level="2" space="false"><display>(a)</display><subsection ssid="1-1-3" dnum="i-o" level="3" placement="sameline"><display>(i)</display>"Administrative personnel" means any LEA or state board staff personnel who <ln numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-5"/>have system-wide, LEA-wide, or school-wide functions and who perform <ln numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-6"/>management activities, including:<subsection ssid="1-1-4" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-7" level="4" tab="1"><display>(A)</display>developing broad policies for LEA or state-level boards; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-5" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-8" level="4" tab="1"><display>(B)</display>executing developed policies through the direction of personnel at any level <ln numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-9"/>within the state or LEA.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-6" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-10" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>"Administrative personnel" includes state, LEA, or school superintendents, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-11"/>assistant superintendents, deputy superintendents, school principals, assistant <ln numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-12"/>principals, directors, executive directors, network directors, cabinet members, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-13"/>subject area directors, grant coordinators, specialty directors, career center <ln numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-14"/>directors, educational specialists, technology personnel, technology <ln numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-15"/>administrators, and others who perform management activities.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-7" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-16" level="2" space="false"><display>(b)</display><subsection ssid="1-1-8" dnum="i-o" level="3" placement="sameline"><display>(i)</display>"Instructional personnel" means an individual whose function includes the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-17"/>provision of:<subsection ssid="1-1-9" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-18" level="4" tab="1"><display>(A)</display>direct or indirect instructional services to students;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-10" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-19" level="4" tab="1"><display>(B)</display>direct or indirect support in the learning process of students; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-11" dnum="C-o" numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-20" level="4" tab="1"><display>(C)</display>direct or indirect delivery of instruction, training, coaching, evaluation, or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-21"/>professional development to instructional or administrative personnel.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-12" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-22" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>"Instructional personnel" includes:<subsection ssid="1-1-13" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-23" level="4"><display>(A)</display>the state board, LEAs, schools, superintendents, boards, administrators, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-24"/>administrative staff, teachers, classroom teachers, facilitators, coaches, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-25"/>proctors, therapists, counselors, student personnel services, librarians, media <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-26"/>specialists, associations, affiliations, committees, contractors, vendors, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-27"/>consultants, advisors, outside entities, community volunteers, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-28"/>para-professionals, public-private partners, trainers, mentors, specialists, and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-29"/>staff; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-14" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-30" level="4"><display>(B)</display>any other employees, officials, government agencies, educational entities, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-31"/>persons, or groups for whom access to students is facilitated through, or not <ln numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-32"/>feasible without, the public education system.</subsection></subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-15" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-33" level="1" space="false"><display>(2)</display><subsection ssid="1-1-16" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Each LEA shall provide an annual assurance to the state board that the LEA's <ln numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-34"/>professional learning, administrative functions, displays, and instructional and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-35"/>curricular materials, are consistent with the following principles of individual <ln numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-36"/>freedom:<subsection ssid="1-1-17" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-37" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>the principle that all individuals are equal before the law and have unalienable <ln numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-38"/>rights; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-18" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-39" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>the following principles of individual freedom:<subsection ssid="1-1-19" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-40" level="4"><display>(A)</display>that no individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether <ln numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-41"/>consciously or unconsciously, solely by virtue of the individual's race, sex, or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-42"/>sexual orientation;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-20" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-43" level="4"><display>(B)</display>that no race is inherently superior or inferior to another race;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-21" dnum="C-o" numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-44" level="4"><display>(C)</display>that no person should be subject to discrimination or adverse treatment solely <ln numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-45"/>or partly on the basis of the individual's race, color, national origin, religion, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-46"/>disability, sex, or sexual orientation;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-22" dnum="D-o" numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-47" level="4"><display>(D)</display>that meritocracy or character traits, including hard work ethic, are not racist <ln numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-48"/>nor associated with or inconsistent with any racial or ethnic group; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-23" dnum="E-o" numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-49" level="4"><display>(E)</display>that an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, does not bear <ln numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-50"/>responsibility for actions that other members of the same race or sex <ln numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-51"/>committed in the past or present.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-24" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-52" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Nothing in this section prohibits instruction regarding race, color, national origin, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-53"/>religion, disability, or sex in a manner that is consistent with the principles described <ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-54"/>in Subsection (2)(a).</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-25" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-55" level="1"><display>(3)</display>The state board or an LEA may not:<subsection ssid="1-1-26" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-56" level="2"><display>(a)</display>attempt to persuade a student or instructional or administrative personnel to a point <ln numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-57"/>of view that is inconsistent with the principles described in Subsection (2)(a); <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="9" groupid="8" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">or</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-27" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-58" level="2"><display>(b)</display>implement policies or programs, or allow instructional personnel or administrative <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-59"/>personnel to implement policies or programs, with content that is inconsistent with <ln numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-60"/>the principles described in Subsection (2)(a)<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="10" groupid="9" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="7" groupid="6" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">; or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-29" dnum="_-o:c-i" numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="1-61" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1027" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(c)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="6" groupid="5" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">pursue disciplinary action against an individual who is instructional personnel or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="1-62"/>administrative personnel solely because the individual, in relation to a student, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="1-63"/>referred to the student by a name, pronoun, or other gender-specific language:</amend><subsection ssid="1-32" dnum="_-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="1-64" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1028" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(i)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="68" groupid="45" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">related the student's birth name or biological sex in good faith and without <ln numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="1-65"/>knowledge of a preference described in Subsection (3)(c)(ii);</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-37" dnum="_-o:ii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="1-66" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3" space="false"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1029" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(ii)</amend></display><subsection ssid="1-34" dnum="_-o:A-i" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4" placement="sameline"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1030" style="1" owner="i" level="1">(A)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="53" groupid="33" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">except as provided in Subsection (3)(c)(ii)(B), that the student prefers; or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-31" dnum="_-o:B-i" numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="1-67" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1031" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(B)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="48" groupid="29" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">that the student's parent prefers; or</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-35" dnum="_-o:iii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="1-68" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1032" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(iii)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="72" groupid="49" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">that does not conflict with the employee's religious or moral beliefs in a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="1-69"/>reasonable, non-disruptive, and non-harassing way, in accordance with Section <ln numlevel="1" lineno="96" slineno="1-70"/>34A-5-112.</amend></subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-28" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="97" slineno="1-71" level="1"><display>(4)</display>The state board and state superintendent may not develop or continue to use core <ln numlevel="1" lineno="98" slineno="1-72"/>standards under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="53E-3-301">53E-3-301</xref> or professional learning that are inconsistent with the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="99" slineno="1-73"/>principles described in Subsection (2)(a).</subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="3" num="67-21-3.3" type="enact" src="code" uid="C67-21-S3.3_2025070120250701" sort="67 21 00030320250701" numlevel="1" lineno="100" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section number="67-21-3.3" numlevel="1" lineno="101" slineno="2-2" type="enact"><secline lineno="100">Section 2, Section <bold>67-21-3.3</bold> is enacted to read:</secline><catline lineno="101"><bold>67-21-3.3. Gender-specific language preference -- Employer action.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="3-3-35" dnum="_-o:1-i" numlevel="1" lineno="102" slineno="2-3" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="1" placement="noreturn"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1034" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(1)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="99" groupid="71" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">An employer may not pursue disciplinary action against an employee solely because the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="103" slineno="2-4"/>employee, in relation to another individual, refers to the individual by a name, pronoun, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="104" slineno="2-5"/>or other gender-specific language:</amend><subsection ssid="3-44" dnum="_-o:a-i" numlevel="1" lineno="105" slineno="2-6" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1035" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="126" groupid="87" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">that conflicts with the individual's personal gender-specific language preference in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="106" slineno="2-7"/>good faith and without knowledge of a preference described in Subsection <xref tempid="1093">(1)(b)</xref>;</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="3-45" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="107" slineno="2-8" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1036" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="131" groupid="91" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">that the individual prefers; or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="3-46" dnum="_-o:c-i" numlevel="1" lineno="108" slineno="2-9" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1037" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(c)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="137" groupid="96" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">that does not conflict with the employee's religious or moral beliefs in a reasonable, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="109" slineno="2-10"/>non-disruptive, and non-harassing way, in accordance with Section 34A-5-112.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="3-3-38" dnum="_-o:2-i" numlevel="1" lineno="110" slineno="2-11" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1038" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(2)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="109" groupid="79" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">If an employer implements a rule or policy that requires an employee to use <ln numlevel="1" lineno="111" slineno="2-12"/>gender-specific language to accommodate another individual's personal gender-specific <ln numlevel="1" lineno="112" slineno="2-13"/>language preference, the employer shall:</amend><subsection ssid="3-42" dnum="_-o:a-i" numlevel="1" lineno="113" slineno="2-14" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1039" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="114" groupid="83" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">ensure that the rule or policy exempts from disciplinary action an employee <ln numlevel="1" lineno="114" slineno="2-15"/>described in Subsection <xref refnumber="67-21-3.3(1)" depth="4">(1)</xref>; and</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="3-3-41" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="115" slineno="2-16" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1040" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="51" groupid="33" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">notify employees in writing of the exemptions described in this section.</amend></subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="5" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="116" slineno="3-1" sn="3"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="116">Section 3.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="117"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="7/1/2025">July 1, 2025</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>2-21-25 11:54 AM</tm></rev></foot></leg>