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A bill that would have 鈥� or display 鈥� in their classrooms has hit a dead end.

The Utah House on Monday narrowly voted down , a bill that would have banned teachers from 鈥渆ndorsing, promoting or disparaging鈥� certain beliefs or viewpoints, including religious or political beliefs and sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Jeff Stenquist, R-Draper, faltered on a vote, with several Republicans joining Democrats in opposition.

It鈥檚 the end of the line for the legislation 鈥� at least this year. Stenquist told Utah News Dispatch in a text message Monday that he likely won鈥檛 seek to resurrect it during the remaining four days of the 2024 legislative session that鈥檚 set to end before midnight Friday.

However, Stenquist said he鈥檒l continue to work on it perhaps for 2025.

The vote came after the bill was altered on the House floor earlier Monday morning, when Rep. Neil Walter, R-St. George, successfully changed the bill to strip out language that also would have regulated teachers鈥� 鈥渟ocial beliefs鈥� 鈥� one of the bill鈥檚 terms that teacher advocates worried was too broad and vague.

鈥淚鈥檓 concerned 鈥榮ocial belief鈥� could (mean) anything they might believe,鈥� Walter said.

He argued regulating 鈥渟ocial beliefs鈥� could create a chilling effect in classrooms, worried it could make teachers fear 鈥渋nadvertently running afoul鈥� of the law and therefore cause them to be 鈥渧ery careful, too careful鈥� in some contexts.

鈥淔or example, I think we would all acknowledge and agree 鈥� that (Adolf) Hitler was an evil man,鈥� Walter said, 鈥渂ut there could be people who were taught or feel that they have a social belief that he is not. We wouldn鈥檛 want to put a teacher 鈥� in a classroom in jeopardy for saying something that might persuade (a student) to reconsider their views.鈥�

The bill would have would required teachers to tread carefully as to not sway a student to change their beliefs.

Walter鈥檚 version also would have allowed teachers to display 鈥減ersonal photographs鈥� in general rather than only photographs of their family members.

Stenquist asked the House not to adopt Walter鈥檚 version, arguing that it would open a 鈥渂ig loophole鈥� in the intent of the bill with regard to displaying photographs. He also worried removing 鈥渟ocial beliefs鈥� from the bill would allow scenarios where teachers could talk about 鈥渃ertain ideologies and world views that maybe don鈥檛 fit neatly in a political bucket or religious bucket.鈥�

Stenquist started working on the legislation about a year ago, after some parents and gender identity with young students outside of curriculum. However, Stenquist has said his bill isn鈥檛 meant to regulate certain viewpoints, but rather ensure teachers remain politically and socially 鈥渘eutral鈥� in the classroom.

鈥淧arents want to know鈥� teachers aren鈥檛 pushing 鈥渙ther types of worldviews or ideologies鈥� onto students that some parents 鈥渕ay not be comfortable with,鈥� Stenquist said. 鈥淎nd that applies to all parents, regardless of what end of the political spectrum you may fall.鈥�

Stenquist acknowledged concerns swirling around the bill over regulating what teachers can and can鈥檛 say, but he argued his bill would address a 鈥減erception out there that our students are being pushed toward particular ideologies.鈥�

鈥淭his really is about giving our students a space to focus on curriculum and focus on learning without the classroom becoming a forum in the other social discussions and divisiveness that鈥檚 happening in society at large,鈥� Stenquist said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 just allow the classroom to be free of political social ideologies and activism.鈥�

Democrats including Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, a former high school teacher, argued against the bill, questioning how teachers should navigate its restrictions while also trying to encourage students to think critically.

鈥淚鈥檓 telling you, this bill will scare teachers,鈥� Briscoe said.

He pointed to a , a nonprofit research organization, that found two-thirds of U.S. K-12 public school teachers are limiting their own instruction about political and social issues in the classroom.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter whether their state has passed a law saying they can鈥檛 do it. They鈥檙e just afraid. They鈥檙e scared as teachers,鈥� Briscoe said, raising his voice on the House floor.

He added he doesn鈥檛 think Stenquist or the bill鈥檚 supporters are trying to scare teachers. 鈥淚 think they鈥檙e good people who have good intentions,鈥� Briscoe said, but he argued the bill will have that effect. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 what鈥檚 best for our children in our classrooms.鈥�

Walter said he鈥檚 also concerned about 鈥渦nintentionally sterilizing a classroom,鈥� but given the Utah State Board of Education already has a rule about political statements, he said removing 鈥渟ocial beliefs鈥� from the bill would address his concerns.

After Walter changed the bill, the House put the legislaton on hold until later Monday afternoon, when Stenquist unsuccessfully tried to pass it out to the Senate.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: [email protected]. Follow Utah News Dispatch on and .

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