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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0302" sponsor="Matt MacPherson" designation="HB" otherSponsor="" otherHouse="Senate" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL0881" date="1/21/2026 09:01:653" printDate="01-21 09:38" subVer="0" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>3</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C63G-1-S704_2026050620260506" fromuid="C63G-1-S704_2025110620251206" sort="63G01 07040020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">63G-1-704</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="2" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Government Speech Neutrality Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Matt MacPherson</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: </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 amends provisions related to adoption of official and other local government flags <ln numlevel="1" lineno="6" slineno="0-6"/>and where certain flags may be displayed.</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">defines terms;</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10" level="1">allows certain local government entities to adopt only one official flag;</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11" level="1">allows certain local governments to adopt other flags for ceremonial or other purposes;</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12" level="1">allows the Rules Review and General Oversight Committee to review the adoption of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="13" slineno="0-13"/>official and other flags by certain local governments;</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14" level="1">allows local governments to fly only official flags in certain locations; 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:</oc><ocNone lineno="19">None</ocNone><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="63G-1-704" src="code" uid="C63G-1-S704_2026050620260506" buid="1" sort="63G01 07040020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="0-22"><bold>63G-1-704</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 17</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="23"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="0-24">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="63G-1-704" type="amend" src="code" uid="C63G-1-S704_2026050620260506" sort="63G01 07040020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="63G-1-704" numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="25">Section 1. Section <bold>63G-1-704</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="26"><bold>63G-1-704<parens/>. Display of flags on government property -- Indemnification -- <ln numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-3"/>Severability.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-4" level="1" placement="noreturn"><display>(1)</display>As used in this section:<subsection ssid="1-45" dnum="_-o:a-i" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-5" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1001" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="26" groupid="21" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">"City" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="10-1-104">10-1-104</xref>.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-46" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-6" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1002" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="33" groupid="26" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">"County" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="17-60-101">17-60-101</xref>.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-2" dnum="a-o:c-i" numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-7" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1003" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(a)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1004" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(c)</amend></display>"Display" means, in regards to a flag, to place a flag in a prominent location on <ln numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-8"/>government property where the flag is easily visible.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-56" dnum="_-o:d-i" numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-9" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1004" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(d)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="111" groupid="87" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">"Exempt flag" means a flag described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(3)">(3)</xref>.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-3" dnum="b-o:e-i" numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-10" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1005" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(b)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1006" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(e)</amend></display>"Flag" means a usually rectangular piece of fabric with a specific design that <ln numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-11"/>symbolizes a location, government entity, or cause.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-4" dnum="c-o:f-i" numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-12" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1006" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(c)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1007" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(f)</amend></display>"Government entity" means:<subsection ssid="1-null-5" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-13" level="3"><display>(i)</display>any local government entity, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="63A-5b-901">63A-5b-901</xref>, including a school <ln numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-14"/>within the public education system; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-6" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-15" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>any state agency, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="63A-5b-901">63A-5b-901</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-7" dnum="d-o:g-i" numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-16" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1009" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(d)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1010" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(g)</amend></display>"Government property" means any property under the ownership or control of a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-17"/>government entity.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-8" dnum="e-o:h-i" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-18" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1010" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(e)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1011" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(h)</amend></display>"LEA governing board" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="53E-1-102"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-19"/>53E-1-102</xref>.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-47" dnum="_-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-20" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1011" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(i)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="37" groupid="29" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">"Municipality" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="10-1-104">10-1-104</xref>.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-48" dnum="_-o:j-i" numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-21" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1012" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(j)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="42" groupid="33" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">"Political subdivision" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="17B-1-102">17B-1-102</xref>.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-9" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-22" level="1"><display>(2)</display>Except as provided in <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="110" groupid="86" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(3)">(3)</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="109" groupid="85" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">Subsections <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(3)">(3)</xref> and <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(5)">(5)</xref></amend>, a government entity, or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-23"/>an employee of a school district or school within the public education system acting <ln numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-24"/>within the employee's official duties, may not:<subsection ssid="1-null-10" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-25" level="2"><display>(a)</display>display a flag in or on the grounds of government property; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-11" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-26" level="2"><display>(b)</display>display an exempt flag described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(3)">(3)</xref><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="124" groupid="97" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both"> or (5)</amend> with alterations in color, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-27"/>symbols, or appearance.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-12" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-28" level="1"><display>(3)</display>The prohibition described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(2)">(2)</xref> does not apply to the following flags:<subsection ssid="1-null-13" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-29" level="2"><display>(a)</display>the official flag of the United States described in Title 4 U.S.C., Ch. 1, The Flag, and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-30"/>Executive Order 1959-10834, and in accordance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="53G-7-211">53G-7-211</xref>;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-14" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-31" level="2"><display>(b)</display>an official Utah state flag as described in Title <xref depth="2" refnumber="63G-1-5">63G, Chapter 1, Part 5</xref>, State Flags;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-15" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-32" level="2"><display>(c)</display>the current and official flag of another country, state, or political subdivision of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-33"/>another country or state;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-16" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-34" level="2"><display>(d)</display>a flag that represents a city, municipality, county, or political subdivision of the state<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="53" groupid="44" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-35"/>as those terms are defined in Sections <xref depth="3" refnumber="10-1-104">10-1-104</xref>, <xref depth="3" refnumber="10-2-301">10-2-301</xref>, <xref depth="3" refnumber="17-60-101">17-60-101</xref>, and <xref depth="3" refnumber="17B-1-102">17B-1-102</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="92" groupid="72" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-36"/> if the flag is the official flag of the city, municipality, county, or political subdivision <ln numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-37"/>as described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(4)">(4)</xref></amend>;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-17" dnum="e-o" numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-38" level="2"><display>(e)</display>a flag that represents a branch, unit, or division of the United States military;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-18" dnum="f-o" numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-39" level="2"><display>(f)</display>the National League of Families POW/MIA flag as described in 36 U.S.C. Sec. 902;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-19" dnum="g-o" numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-40" level="2"><display>(g)</display>a flag that represents an Indian tribe as defined in federal law;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-20" dnum="h-o" numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-41" level="2"><display>(h)</display>an officially licensed flag of a college or university depicting only the colors, logos, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-42"/>and marks consistent with official college or university branding;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-21" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-43" level="2"><display>(i)</display>a historic version of a flag described in Subsections <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(3)(a)">(3)(a)</xref>  and (b);</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-22" dnum="j-o" numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-44" level="2"><display>(j)</display>an official public school flag;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-23" dnum="k-o" numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-45" level="2"><display>(k)</display>an official flag of the United States Olympic Committee, United States Paralympic <ln numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-46"/>Committee, International Olympic Committee, or International Paralympic <ln numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-47"/>Committee;<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="131" groupid="103" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both"> or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-24" dnum="l-o" numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-48" level="2"><display>(l)</display>an official flag of an olympiad or paralympiad that occurred or will occur within the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-49"/>state<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="134" groupid="106" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">; or</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="132" groupid="104" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-25" dnum="m-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-50" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="2" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1029" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(m)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="137" groupid="108" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="end">a flag of an organization authorized to use a public school facility at the location <ln numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-51"/>and during the time in which the organization is authorized to use the public school <ln numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-52"/>facility.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-42" dnum="_-o:4-i" numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-53" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="1" space="false"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1030" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(4)</amend></display><subsection ssid="1-43" dnum="_-o:a-i" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2" placement="sameline"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1031" style="1" owner="i" level="1">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="12" groupid="8" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">A city, municipality, county, or political subdivision of the state may adopt and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-54"/>have only one official flag.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-53" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-55" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1032" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="88" groupid="69" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">A city, municipality, county, or political subdivision may adopt additional flags for <ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-56"/>ceremonial or other purposes.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-58" dnum="_-o:c-i" numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-57" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1033" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(c)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="122" groupid="95" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">Adoption of a flag as described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(4)(a)">(4)(a)</xref> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(b)">(b)</xref> is subject to review by the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-58"/>Rules Review and General Oversight Committee created in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="36-35-102">36-35-102</xref> to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-59"/>ensure compliance with this section.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-60" dnum="_-o:d-i" numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-60" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1034" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(d)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="141" groupid="111" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">A flag described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(4)(a)">(4)(a)</xref> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(b)">(b)</xref> is not the official flag of the city, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-61"/>municipality, county, or political subdivision of the state until the flag has been <ln numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-62"/>approved by the Rules Review and General Oversight Committee created in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="36-35-102"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="1-63"/>36-35-102</xref>.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-49" dnum="_-o:5-i" numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="1-64" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="1" space="false"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1035" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(5)</amend></display><subsection ssid="1-57" dnum="_-o:a-i" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2" placement="sameline"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1036" style="1" owner="i" level="1">(a)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="118" groupid="92" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">A city, municipality, county, or political subdivision may display only an exempt <ln numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="1-65"/>flag described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(3)">(3)</xref> in the following locations under the control or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="1-66"/>jurisdiction of the city, municipality, county, or political subdivision:</amend><subsection ssid="1-54" dnum="_-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="1-67" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3" tab="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1037" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(i)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="99" groupid="78" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">a courthouse; or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-55" dnum="_-o:ii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="1-68" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3" tab="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1038" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(ii)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="107" groupid="83" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">a public airport.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-50" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="1-69" 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">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="71" groupid="59" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">A city, municipality, county, or political subdivision may display in any location not <ln numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="1-70"/>described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(5)(a)">(5)(a)</xref> an exempt flag or another flag adopted by the city, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="1-71"/>municipality, county, or political subdivision as described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(4)(b)">(4)(b)</xref>.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-59" dnum="_-o:6-i" numlevel="1" lineno="96" slineno="1-72" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1040" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(6)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="128" groupid="101" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">This section does not apply to a private organization's ability to display a flag of the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="97" slineno="1-73"/>organization authorized to use a public school facility at the location and during the time <ln numlevel="1" lineno="98" slineno="1-74"/>in which the organization is authorized to use the public school facility.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-26" dnum="4-o:7-i" numlevel="1" lineno="99" slineno="1-75" level="1" space="false"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1041" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(4)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1042" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(7)</amend></display><subsection ssid="1-null-27" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The state auditor shall:<subsection ssid="1-null-28" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="100" slineno="1-76" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>establish a process to receive and investigate alleged violations of this section;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-29" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="101" slineno="1-77" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>provide notice to the relevant government entity of:<subsection ssid="1-null-30" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="102" slineno="1-78" level="4"><display>(A)</display>each alleged violation of this section involving the government entity;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-31" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="103" slineno="1-79" level="4"><display>(B)</display>each violation that the state auditor determines to be substantiated, including <ln numlevel="1" lineno="104" slineno="1-80"/>an opportunity to cure the violation not to exceed 30 calendar days;</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-32" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="105" slineno="1-81" level="3" tab="1"><display>(iii)</display>if a government entity, other than a school district or a school within the public <ln numlevel="1" lineno="106" slineno="1-82"/>education system, fails to cure a violation in accordance with Subsection <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="24" groupid="19" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both"><xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(4)(a)(ii)(b)"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="107" slineno="1-83"/>(4)(a)(ii)(B)</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="23" groupid="18" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true"><xref refnumber="(7)(a)(ii)(B)" depth="(7)(a)(ii)(B)">(7)(a)(ii)(B)</xref><highlight sid="18149"/></amend>, impose a fine of $500 per violation per day; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-33" dnum="iv-o" numlevel="1" lineno="108" slineno="1-84" level="3" tab="1"><display>(iv)</display>deposit fines described in Subsection <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="21" groupid="16" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both"><xref depth="4" refnumber="63G-1-704(4)(a)(iii)">(4)(a)(iii)</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="20" groupid="15" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true"><xref refnumber="(7)(a)(iii)" depth="(7)(a)(iii)">(7)(a)(iii)</xref></amend> into the General Fund.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-34" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="109" slineno="1-85" level="2"><display>(b)</display>A government entity may seek judicial review of a fine the state auditor imposes <ln numlevel="1" lineno="110" slineno="1-86"/>under this section to determine whether the imposition of the fine is clearly erroneous.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-35" dnum="5-o:8-i" numlevel="1" lineno="111" slineno="1-87" level="1"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1050" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(5)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1051" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(8)</amend></display>Nothing in this section, for a local education agency, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="53E-1-102"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="112" slineno="1-88"/>53E-1-102</xref>:<subsection ssid="1-null-36" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="113" slineno="1-89" level="2"><display>(a)</display>limits the authority of the agency related to student expression under applicable <ln numlevel="1" lineno="114" slineno="1-90"/>federal or state law; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-37" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="115" slineno="1-91" level="2"><display>(b)</display>removes the agency's obligation to protect all students from discrimination.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-38" dnum="6-o:9-i" numlevel="1" lineno="116" slineno="1-92" level="1"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1053" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(6)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1054" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(9)</amend></display>Regarding a school district or a school within the public education system, the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="117" slineno="1-93"/>attorney general shall defend and the state shall indemnify and hold harmless a person <ln numlevel="1" lineno="118" slineno="1-94"/>acting under color of state law to enforce this section for any claims or damages, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="119" slineno="1-95"/>including court costs and attorney fees, that:<subsection ssid="1-null-39" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="120" slineno="1-96" level="2"><display>(a)</display>arise as a result of this section; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-40" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="121" slineno="1-97" level="2"><display>(b)</display>are not covered by the person's insurance policies or by any coverage agreement the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="122" slineno="1-98"/>State Risk Management Fund issues.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-41" dnum="7-o:10-i" numlevel="1" lineno="123" slineno="1-99" level="1"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1056" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(7)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1057" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(10)</amend></display>If any provision of this section or the application of any provision of this section <ln numlevel="1" lineno="124" slineno="1-100"/>to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a final decision of a court, the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="125" slineno="1-101"/>remainder of this section shall be given effect without the invalidated provision or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="126" slineno="1-102"/>application.</subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="2" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="127" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="127">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="128"><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="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>1-21-26 9:38 AM</tm></rev></foot></leg>