Utah lawmakers want high school students to learn about their legal responsibilities
Jan 15, 2026, 2:49 PM
Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights makes a comment as the Senate Education Committee hears discussion on SB178 to prohibit devices in schools during school hours in the Senate building at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – A new bill has been introduced that would require schools to teach 10th graders about their legal responsibilities.
Utah state Sen. Kathleen Riebe has introduced S.B. 56, Citizenship Education Amendments. The bill would require schools to teach 10th graders about voting rights, jury duty, credit card debt, legal contracts, the criminal justice system and more.
Riebe says this type of education is particularly important in the digital age.
“This is a fast moving world,” Riebe said. “There’s financial predators out there. There are sexual predators out there. There are just a lot of potholes in the world, so putting some guardrails around those experiences and putting up safety cones so they don’t get caught.”
S.B. 56 would allow for flexibility with how schools teach the information, without requiring a specific curriculum.
Riebe hopes the conversation with students would not end in the classroom.
“Maybe this could be sent home to the families to say, ‘Hey, talk to your kids about their legal responsibilities and the legal repercussions if they don’t follow through,’” Riebe said.
If S.B. 56 becomes law, it would go into effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
Read more: New election law in effect for Utah’s municipal Election Day Tuesday
