Bill meant to promote wide-ranging debate on university campuses goes to Gov. Cox

SALT LAKE CITY — As the clock wound down last Friday on Utah's 2026 legislative session, lawmakers approved a measure meant to foster wide-ranging debate on the state's college campuses.

SB295, prompted in part by concerns that the state's 2024 law targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives was a hindrance to free speech, now goes to Gov. Spencer Cox's desk for review and consideration.

The measure clarifies that guest lecturers and invited speakers "are not restricted by the (diversity, equity and inclusion) prohibitions ... in universities, even if the speakers' content touches on those topics," Rep. Katy Hall, the House sponsor of SB295, said in promoting the measure to House lawmakers last Friday.

HB261 in 2024 required Utah's public universities to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, ostensibly meant to help traditionally marginalized groups adjust to university life. HB261 backers argued that such programming could lead to discrimination against other groups of people. Late last year, Weber State University officials cited HB261 in advising a would-be guest speaker to avoid certain words and topics in her presentation, prompting her to withdraw and spurring SB295.

Aside from spelling out that guest speakers aren't beholden to HB261, Hall said SB295 also contains provisions requiring universities to hold "public policy debates" on a wide range of topics to foster the exchange of ideas. HB261 aims for "institutional neutrality" at universities, notably among administrators, but proponents of the measure still want civil debate on campuses on a range of topics. "Our higher ed institutions should be the bastions of free speech," said Hall, a South Ogden Republican.

SB295 also contains language clarifying guidelines governing certain clubs at Utah's public primary and secondary schools.

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