S.B. 232 Regulatory Impacts on Families

What this bill does

The bill would require state agencies, counties, cities, and school boards to consider how a proposed rule, ordinance, or policy would affect the stability and formation of families in Utah before adopting it. It does not require them to adopt any particular outcome, and it does not invalidate existing ordinances or create a new legal right to sue.

Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.

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Every vote

• 6 yes, 0 no, 1 absentSenate Education Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 6, 2026Who voted how
• 22 yes, 2 no, 5 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
• 23 yes, 2 no, 4 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how
• 6 yes, 0 no, 4 absentHouse Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 27, 2026Who voted how
• 47 yes, 10 no, 18 absentFinal House vote · Mar 5, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Feb 6, 2026 Senate Education Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (20 turns)

  1. Committee chair (Sen. Michael K. McKell)2:04:31

     Next item on the agenda. Regulatory impacts on families SB 2 32. Senator Fillmore, go ahead. Oh, Senator Fillmore, I got the gavel. The time is yours.

  2. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore2:05:04

     Oh, great. Regulatory impacts on Families Senate Bill 2 32. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a simple bill that requires that, um, government agencies and political subdivisions, um, as they promulgate rules or ordinances or policy, should consider the effect of, uh, family stability and family formation as they are creating those policies. That concludes my presentation.

  3. Committee chair (Sen. Michael K. McKell)2:05:35

     Okay. With that conclusion of the presentation, let's go to members of the committee with questions. Senator Fillmore, it's your lucky day. I don't see any questions from members of the committee. Is there anybody in the public that would like to make comment on this bill? Okay. Come on up and state, state your name and you can stay there. Senator Fillmore. I only see one. There's one online and there's going to be one online, and we will take it. Uh, go ahead.

  4. Karson Eilers, Policy Director, Utah League of Cities and Towns2:05:59

     All right. Uh, thank you Mr. Chair, members of the committee. My name is Carson Allers, and I'm representing the Utah League of Cities and Towns today and all days, actually. Um, it's a pleasure to be here for my, uh, I guess, annual visit to the Senate Education Committee. Um, not a regular here, but I appreciate you having me. Um, yeah, we, uh, I wanna thank Senator, uh, Fillmore for reaching out to us. We do have some concerns about just the language of the bill. We appreciate the, the sponsor's intent. Um, and we're working with the sponsor to just to try to clarify, um, clarify the language. We wanna avoid any situations because the, the language in the municipal section is in our, um, in our enabling code. We just wanna make sure we're not inadvertently opening up to third party legal challenges for, uh, run of the mill ordinances. So, um, I think these, uh, concerns are surmountable and we'll keep working with the sponsor. Um, and I'm open to any questions you may have.

  5. Committee chair (Sen. Michael K. McKell)2:06:50

     Thank you. Thank you for your comments today. Um, let's take, let's take, uh, Seth Stewart online, and I'm gonna start the two minute timer. Go ahead, Seth. The time is yours.

  6. Seth Stewart, American Fork2:07:01

     Thank you. Awesome. Yeah, my name is Seth Stewart, um, representing myself and my family, I guess, from American Fork. Um, and I appreciate this bill. It's almost every bill in this session could be titled Regulatory Impacts on Families. So I appreciate the, the candor there. Um, I have noted that this bill seems to be an answer to Elder Neil a Maxwell's 1993 talk, in which he said that why not require impact family impact studies before proceeding with this program or that remedy and, and sense of all the environmental concerns the family should be. First, hundreds of governmental departments and programs, programs protect various interests, but which one protects the family? And so I, I love the ethic behind that. Um, maybe it took us 33 years to, uh, begin promoting or pushing legislation to, to do that. I, I don't know the full history of that. So, um, I do wish to commend that effort. Um, I, I, I will submit though that, uh, I, I do have a concern about how structured, and that is that the language of the bill defers to the, the boards or the agencies involved to make that determination for themselves. I would just submit and suggest, um, that a rotating citizen panel that can conduct public hearings and so on might provide a better alternative. Because if you, if you invite the input from the families themselves as opposed to the, the, the, the board agency or, or, uh, regulatory, uh, uh, body, then you'll likely get much better input. And, uh, so I would just recommend, uh, soliciting that and having, having some kind of a rotating panel that's just randomly chosen from the citizenry themselves to, to opine on those subjects and to help, uh, contribute to those reports. Thank you very much. And, uh, again, I really do appreciate the, uh, the impetus behind this. Okay.

  7. Committee chair (Sen. Michael K. McKell)2:08:45

     Thank you. I'm going to close public comment, and I'm gonna go back to the committee. Senator Riebe, your light is on.

  8. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe2:08:54

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm looking at the fiscal note, and it has a fiscal note of zero. It's not gonna cost anybody anything to do this. To think about the impact on families.

  9. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore2:09:04

     Yeah, there would be no, no expenses to do that. Well, You have to actually, uh, consider the impact of the proposed ordinance. So you're just gonna all think about it separately in random rooms and think about it, and not have any kind of output or no extra meetings for it. Uh, nope. No extra meetings are required, Mr. Chair. Okay.

  10. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe2:09:24

      And my second question is, how would you, in, after you came up with your idea, how would you enforce it? What would be the penalty if they decided that it was bad,

  11. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore2:09:32

      Obviously we would put in Seth's citizen review panel. Oh, okay. No, this bill does not. We direct them to consider the impacts on families. Okay. It's something that would need to be, uh, enforced through the people, the, you know, that, that, that they elect, that are, that elect them to that office. So this would apply to cities, counties, uh, school district boards, things like that.

  12. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe2:09:56

      And how Would they, there is no enforcement mechanism. How Would they publish what their opinions are?

  13. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore2:10:00

      They don't need to publish what their opinions are. Mr. Chair.

  14. Committee chair (Sen. Michael K. McKell)2:10:04

      Okay. Um, to the committee for Committee action. Senator Balder, your light was on.

  15. Sen. Dan Balderree2:10:09

      Oh, I, uh, Senator Riebe asked the same question I had.

  16. Committee chair (Sen. Michael K. McKell)2:10:13

      Thank you. So I'm gonna go back to the sponsor of the bill. Would you like to make a motion?

  17. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore2:10:18

      Uh, I will make a motion. And, and then I'll speak to, by way of summation, I would move that we favorably recommend Senate Bill 2 32 Regulatory Impacts on Families Case. The motion is to, uh, send out, uh, SB 2 32 with a favorable recommendation.

  18. Committee chair (Sen. John D. Johnson)2:10:37

      Any discussion to the motion? Seeing none, we'll come back to Thank you.

  19. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore2:10:44

      Two things. I'd say one in, in response to the cities that came up here. So there's nothing in this bill that creates a cause of action. However, I'd say both the cities and the state are familiar with courts that do not interpret the law as it's very clearly written. So I'm happy to, you know, make, uh, make it even more clear that this does not create a cause, a cause of action. Uh, cities could not be sued for doing something that, uh, somebody thought didn't, wasn't the best thing for families. It's completely still up to elected officials and departments to, uh, you know, to determine how that works. We just ask them to make sure that it's part of their consideration. And secondly, I just wanna state how offended I am that the Sutherland Institute sent a message supporting this bill, and yet Stan Rasmussen is in the room and didn't even come up here to testify in favor of it. So, uh, does that that, Yep, that's my summation. OO

  20. Committee chair (Sen. John D. Johnson)2:11:42

      Okay. You're also the, uh, maker of the motion. So do you want us Okay. Thank you. Uh, so the motion on the table is to send out SB 2 32 regulatory impacts on families with a favorable recommendation. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Chair rules? That is unanimous. Thank you. Okay.

• Feb 20, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (5 turns)

  1. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore3:32:42

     Thank you. Uh, Mr. President State agencies, cities, counties, uh, political subdivisions are, are all empowered to make rules pass ordinances. And when they do, they typically approach those fairly narrowly. And I don't mean that as a criticism, I just mean that the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Natural Resources, uh, have statutorily defined focus and, and when they're considering rules and uh, and regulations, they typically consider, uh, appropriately what's in their lane. Senate Bill 2 32 is about making sure that government decisions strengthen families instead of unintentionally harming them. So before a state agency or a political subdivision adopts a new rule or ordinance, they should pause and evaluate how its knock on effects may impact family stability and formation. That concludes my presentation on the bill.

  2. Speaker (presiding)3:33:47

     Thank you Senator Fillmore. Any discussion to Senate Bill 2 32? Seeing none back to you for summation or a motion. Thank

  3. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore3:33:58

     You Mr. President ProAm. Uh, just by way of disclosure, I am in talks with the League of Cities and Towns on some suggested amendments they hope to have to me by today. Uh, uh, but I heard from them earlier that they didn't. So they promise me that they will have them before this moves on third, uh, on Monday. So with that, I'll move that Senate Bill 2 32. Be read a third time.

  4. Speaker (presiding)3:34:19

     The motion before us says, shall Senate bill 2 32 be read a third time roll call vote. Senator Vickers Baldry Lewin b Brammer plus Comore. Ms. Camilla Aye. Gilmore Aye. Grover Aye. Harper Kinins. Aye. Ipson Johnson. Aye. Juab McKay A. Mikel Aye. Milner Musselman Owens pitcher Alum Rebe Sandal Aye. Stevenson Stevenson. Aye. Stratton Bickers Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye. Lewin, president Adams Senate Bill 2 32. Regulatory impacts on families which receives 22 I votes two nay votes five being absent will be read a third time.

  5. Speaker (presiding)3:36:02

     All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye. I rule that. Motion passes. Thank you for the support.

• Feb 23, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (2 turns)

  1. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:31:03

     Mr. President, the League of Cities and Towns promised to have me language over the weekend for some changes they would like made here. I haven't seen them yet, but I'm willing to give them until after lunch. So I hope they're listening before I, uh, pass this bill out of the Senate. Thank you. I'll move to circle.

  2. Presiding officer1:31:22

     Motion is to circle all in favor of the motion to circle, say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'll rule that passes.

• Feb 25, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (25 turns)

  1. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:41:03

     Thank you Mr. President. Uh, we talked about this a bit on second. You know, uh, when government agencies go political subdivisions make rules, those sometimes have an impact on families. And because we task these agencies, you know, each one has a pretty narrow lane, uh, they don't always, you know, look outside that lane. So this would just, uh, require them to consider whether or not a proposed rule or ordinance would have an impact on the stability, stability and formation of families, uh, in the state. So that's what the bill does. There's a substitute that I'd like to move. This just makes some, some changes that the League of Cities and towns requested, uh, that would ensure that this does not, it, it doesn't invalidate an ordinance, uh, and it doesn't create a cause of action, you know, if they adopt a policy that somebody else feels like you should have considered families more or something like that. So, uh, this is a nice prophylactic language that exists there to prevent, uh, litigation on this issue. So, I'd like to move to delete init and Body Senate Bill 2 32. Replace it with first substitute Senate Bill 2 32.

  2. Presiding officer1:42:15

     Thank you for that presentation. Is there discussion to the bill? Seeing none back to you. Senator Fillmore. I,

  3. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:42:24

     It's, it's a motion to substitute. I'd be, I would appreciate everyone's support.

  4. Presiding officer1:42:28

     Okay. I was just saying if there's no discussion on the motion substitute All in favor of deleting entitled and Body Senate bill 2 32 and replacing it with first substitute Senate Bill 2 32. Say, aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'll rule that passes now to the substituted bill.

  5. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:42:43

     Uh, thank you. I think I spoke to the substitute when I presented the bill. Uh, look forward to, I hope I can get everyone's support, but happy to answer questions.

  6. Presiding officer1:42:51

     Thank you. Discussion to the bill. Senator Rebe.

  7. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:42:55

     Thank you Mr. President. Um, the sponsors yield to questions,

  8. Presiding officer1:43:00speaker not certain

     Senator? Sure. Yes, go ahead.

  9. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:43:03

     Thank you. On line 5 99, it says a measurable negative impact. Um, I understand what's going on in this bill, but when I think about regulatory impacts on families and what each different district and county has in their population, I, I struggle with what one person might think is negative and another person might not find negative. So I find that this is a subjective language about a negative impact. Um, what kind of policies would we be considering that we would stop and once we decided they were negative, what's, what are the steps that we take in this bill that stops that behavior or that stops that impact?

  10. Presiding officer1:43:50

      Senator Fillmore,

  11. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:43:52

      Thank you Mr. President. I appreciate that question. There's nothing like that in the bill. This bill requires them to consider family impacts, but not to prioritize family impact or not to automatically assume that if we have found that this, uh, that this might have some knock on effects that that's more important than what we're trying to accomplish. It simply directs the government agencies to consider the fact that that might happen. And even looking at the lines that she's pointing to, all this says is they should consider reasonable alternatives. It doesn't mean they need to adopt reasonable alternatives. There's no accountability if they don't adopt reasonable alternatives. And she's right that this is subjective language, but that's subjective because these are largely either elected officials we're talking about or people who've been appointed to government positions and they should be using their judgment about these kinds of things. We simply ask that their judgment include, uh, um, thought about how this would impact families.

  12. Presiding officer1:44:48

      Thank you. Senator Rebe.

  13. Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe1:44:50

      Thank you Mr. President Pro Tem. You know, when I think, when I think about how many bills we pass and how many conversations we have on this floor about really weighty subjects, this bill seems like it should have been a resolution since it has no impact on people's daily life. And there's really nothing you can do if you decide that it is a negative impact. So when we think about a body that was running 1500 bills and passes, maybe 600, I think we all need to start looking at what we're working on and whether it's really a benefit to our community and is providing help. So, uh, I I ran for office to help people and to actually solve problems and I don't really think this is something that's worthy of, um, a bill. Thank you.

  14. Presiding officer1:45:32

      Thank you. Further discussion of the bill. Senator Blouin.

  15. Sen. Nate Blouin1:45:36

      Thank you President Pro Tem. Uh, wondering if the sponsor would answer a question. Um, I'm wondering, and I didn't see this in there, uh, is there a definition of family health

  16. Presiding officer1:45:47

      Senator Fillmore, Uh, Mr.

  17. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:45:50

      President? No, there is not. Again, the language here is subjective on purpose because what we want to do is empower those local officials to be able to make such as, such a decision. But that as in the process of making that decision, they would consider what unanticipated consequences might this impact on families. And so it really is just asking 'em to try to anticipate those things in advance when they're adopting the policy. Thank

  18. Sen. Nate Blouin1:46:15

      You, Senator. So could this include, uh, you know, environmental health factors, public health factors, things of that nature? Uh, I'm thinking about, I don't know, like radon in, in homes, things of that, uh, sort of policy area that, uh, that we have, I don't think focused on quite enough in, in other areas, uh, of legislation that we have run this year.

  19. Presiding officer1:46:37

      Senator Fillmore,

  20. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:46:39

      Uh, Mr. President if a, a government agency or a a a governmental subdivision elected board thought that, uh, a policy on radon might have good impacts on family health, uh, yes they could consider that and use that as a reason to pass it.

  21. Presiding officer1:46:56

      Thank you. Thank you. Seeing no further discussion to the bill. Senator Fillmore, back

  22. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore1:47:02

      to you first motion. Thank I appreciate It. The fiscal note has cut up to this so I'll move that First substitute Senate Bill 2 32 pass.

  23. Presiding officer1:47:09

      The question is, shall first substitute Senate bill two 30? What's that? The question is, shall first substitute Senate bill two thirty two pass Roll call vote. Senator Vickers Baldy. Aye. Lewin. Sometimes it's grammar Bus Fillmore Esca Fillmore Aye. Grover Aye. Harper Aye. Hankins Ipson Johnson. Aye. Juab Aye. McKay Mikel Aye. Milner Aye. Musselman Owens Pitchman Aye. Bu rebe Sandal Stevenson Aye. Stratton? Yes. Vickers. Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye. President Adams First substitute Senate Bill 2 32 Hammond received 23 yay votes two nay votes four being absent passes as Senate to be sent to the house for further consideration. We're gonna try to do two more encircled Senate bills before we adjourn a recess. Adjourn for the day. Yeah. Senator Pitcher.

  24. Sen. Jen Pitcher1:48:46

      Thank you Mr. President Pro Tem. Having voted on the prevailing side, I move that we reconsider our actions on Senate bill 2 0 5 And the motion is to having v having voted on the prevailing site recon reconsider our actions on first substitute Senate bill 2 0 5 law enforcement artificial intelligence amendments.

  25. Presiding officer1:49:05

      Discussion of that motion. Seeing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Or will that passes? The bill is we'll place that at the top of the third reading calendar and as soon as we are there. Okay. Set. There we go. And I'll call first substitute Senate bill two zero five. First Substitute Senate bill 2 0 5, law enforcement Artificial Intelligence Amendments. Senator Pitcher.

• Feb 27, 2026 House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (8 turns)

  1. Committee chair (presiding)2:15:56

     on the sixth item on our agenda, SB uh, 2 32. First substitute.

  2. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore2:16:02

     Thank you. It's good to be with you guys again. Um, uh, Senate bill 2 32. Um, this recognizes something here, and that is we have a lot of state agencies that make rules. We've got a lot of political subdivisions that make policy and ordinances. Uh, and so, uh, this bill requires all of those bodies when they are proposing a rule or an ordinance to consider what the impact will be on the strength, viability, stability, formation of families.

  3. Committee chair (presiding)2:16:38

     And that concludes your presentation. Yep. Okay. Um, we'll bring it back to the committee for clarifying questions. Seeing none will open this to public comment. Anybody from the public? Nobody. Okay.

  4. Committee chair (presiding)2:16:59

     Now we have a dilemma because we just lost quorum. We lost the quorum. Yeah. But I think Representative Shallenberger's out in the hall, if I could ask Senator Brammer, if you'll go, could you go wrangle your high school classmate and get him in here?

  5. Unknown speaker2:17:19speaker not certain

     Is that right? Well, they were a couple years apart, but yeah. Yeah, It's one of the other, I don't know which one either, to be honest. So if This, if this were the Senate, this would be a full committee. I know it's true. I mean, this would be like a hundred percent of the committee, right? Yeah, I think, I think she has to be on screen too. So I know that Representative Cutler went up the stairs to present the bill, and I think, uh, feels like the last day of the session we're just sauntering, right? Yeah. Except we're not waiting on the Senate this time. That's true. Well, I mean, are they like taking pictures out there and it's, It's A bill that passed the house committee. They found someone better. Oh, good. Yes. Okay.

  6. Committee chair (presiding)2:19:07

     Now we can, we can, um, get down to business. So, um, so we're bringing you back to committee for action, maybe Representative Owens motion to approve SB 2 32 sub one with a favorable recommendation of the full house. That motion is an order. Would you like to speak to that motion? No. Okay. Uh, the motion before us is to favorably recommend for substitute SB 2 32. Um, more, uh, discussion of that motion. Seeing none Will will go to the sponsor. I'll waive. Thank you. Summation is waived. Go to the make of the motion.

  7. Rep. Doug Owens2:19:55

     I think it's got, uh, good utility, so I support it.

  8. Committee chair (presiding)2:19:58

     Thank you. Great. Thank you. Um, so the motion before us is to favorably recommend first substitute SB 2 32. All in favor to say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion passes unanimously. Thank you, Senator. And, um, the last item on our agenda,

• Mar 5, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (2 turns)

  1. Unknown speaker1:14:48speaker not certain

     First substitute Senate bill 2 32. Regulatory impacts on Families by Senator Fillmore. This bill was assert in Economic Development and Workforce Services with the vote 6 0 4. The House sponsors Representative Ballard.

  2. Speaker (presiding)1:15:04

     Representative Boxier. Motion to circle. Thank you representative. That motion is an order sponsors off the floor. We'll go ahead and place the motion. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Rule That motion passes the bills circle. Madam Reading Clerk

• Mar 5, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (6 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)1:23:34

     Let's go to Representative Ballard.

  2. Rep. Melissa G. Ballard1:23:38

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to un enc circle SB 2 32.

  3. Speaker (presiding)1:23:41

     That motion is noted. We'll go ahead and place the motion. The motion be before the house encircle SB 2 32. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Will that motion passes the bills? Uncircled, do you represent ballot?

  4. Rep. Melissa G. Ballard1:23:54

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, the legislation that we do in this body really affects the families and neighborhoods all across the state. And so this, uh, bill titled Regulatory Impacts on Families literally addresses state agency rulemaking, county or municipal Legislative Body ordinances, um, or local school board adopting policies to ask them to consider the impact that their rulemaking, ordinance, or policy will have on the health, uh, of the family, the stability and the formation of, of their families. Let me give you some examples of this. One of them may be if a city's wanting to pass a noise ordinance, or it could be a housing or zoning laws that could have positive or negative impacts on families or deciding where to place a city park that could have a positive impact on families. So it puts that requirement in there, but there is nothing that prohibits a body from, um, from failing to do this or any action against the county or the legislative body if they, if they do not adhere to it. But I think it's good policy to help make sure that any regulation or ordinances consider the impact on our families.

  5. Speaker (presiding)1:25:16

     Thank you, Representative Ballard. Discussion to the bill. Seeing none back to Representative Ballard for summation. Waive summation has been waived. Voting will now be open on first substitute SB 2:32 AM Just Gonna get this Representative Strong. Would you like to vote? Seeing all present, having voted voting is now closed. First substitute SB 2 32 passes this body with 47 yes votes. 10 no votes will be sent to the Senate or signed by the speaker sent to the Senate for the signature of the President.

  6. Speaker (presiding)1:26:56

     Let's go to Representative Bollinger.