Kera Birkeland

Even before the presidential campaign started, Utah was part of a national wave of states restricting gender-affirming care, sports participation and bathroom access.

During a special legislative session, lawmakers approved two resolutions that could jeopardize federal education funding.

The Utah State Auditor, charged with investigating enforcement, says the online portal already has received more than 10,000 submissions in its first week — and that none seem legitimate.

Legislators left it up to each school district to decide how it would communicate the changes. Some have held classroom presentations. Others have sent home fact sheets or met privately with families who might be affected.

The bill would prohibit Utah teachers from hanging a pride flag in their classroom and ban other things viewed as endorsing a specific “political or social belief.”

Senate President Stuart Adams and Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla appeared together during Senate media availability to present a united front. When asked about impeachment, Adams said “I think we're looking at those issues.”

Much like they did last year, Utah’s supermajority legislature front-loaded its contentious bills to the opening days of the 45-day work session.

Gov. Spencer Cox has signed a law that requires people to use bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools and government-owned buildings that match their sex assigned at birth.

For the last 2 years, Utah has passed laws directly impacting many transgender Utahns' ways of life. This year added a 3rd bill — and a debate over bathrooms.

The bill continues to restrict transgender kids in public K-12 schools from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

After passing the Utah House last week, the Senate Business and Labor Committee advanced the bill to the floor on a 5-3 vote.

Three days after it was introduced, and in the first week of the session, the bill is headed to the state Senate for consideration.