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- Utah lawmakers are still considering several LGBTQ-related bills as the session nears an end.
- Gov. Cox signed a measure restricting dorm residency based on biological sex into law.
- Some bills haven't received hearings, limiting their prospects.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers have been mulling numerous bills this session focused on the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender people.
One measure has already been signed into law, another has passed the House and Senate and awaits gubernatorial attention while several others are still up for debate with the end of the session on Friday looming. Other proposals have not even received a hearing at this late stage, suggesting they'll probably fizzle.
The 2025 session represents the fourth consecutive year transgender issues, in particular, have been a focus of Utah lawmakers. Here's a look at some of the action so far with activity nearing an end:
HB269: The measure limits dorms where transgender students can reside at public universities. Gov. Spencer Cox signed it into law on Feb. 14. More specifically, the new law says only biological females may reside in dorms designated for females, not transgender females. Likewise, only biological males may live in dorms for males, not transgender males. The measure stemmed from the uproar caused by a transgender resident assistant at Utah State University.
HB252: The measure would prohibit Utah Department of Corrections facilities from initiating certain surgical or hormone treatments to help transgender inmates transition. The measure would allow the department to provide mental health care for patients with gender dysphoria. It passed the Utah House and Senate and awaits attention from Cox.
HB77: The measure would limit the display of banners in school classrooms to flags of the United States and other countries, U.S. military branches, Native American tribes and a few others. Proponents say the measure aims to maintain political neutrality in schools while critics in the LGBTQ community say it's aimed at keeping gay pride flags out of schools. It's received House approval and awaits consideration by the full Senate.
HB250: The bill would prohibit school districts from disciplining teachers who don't use the preferred pronouns of transgender students, though it has several nuances. Similar prohibitions would apply to other employers. It passed in the House but failed to pass in a Senate committee Tuesday.
HB413: The measure would prohibit law enforcement officials or caseworkers from removing a child from a home or placing a child in protective custody because the child's parents don't let the child get surgical or hormonal treatment to change their gender. Likewise, officials couldn't take children into custody because parents maintain that their gender coincides with their gender at birth, regardless, presumably, of the gender identity the child asserts. It passed in the House but was still being held for a Senate committee hearing.
Other measures emerged that focused on the transgender community, but they haven't received initial committee hearings at this late stage, suggesting their prospects are limited:
HB521: The bill would prohibit the use of public funds on certain surgical or hormone treatments to help transgender people transition.
HB487: The bill calls for recognition of Women's Veterans Day on June 12 to honor female members of the U.S. armed forces. It specifies that "biological women" would be honored under its provisions, and has drawn attention from Equality Utah, an LGBTQ advocacy group, because it "would specifically exclude from recognition transgender women who serve or have served in the military."
Utah lawmakers last year approved legislation restricting restroom access for transgender people. Lawmakers passed a prohibition on transgender girls participating in high school sports in 2022 and banned gender-related surgeries for minors in 2023.
