Utah’s 2026 legislative session delivered a series of wins for families and students. Rep. Ariel Defay and Emily Bell McCormick, president and founder of The Policy Project, joined the House Rules podcast to discuss three bills that passed this session: expanded maternity leave for public employees, a statewide phone restriction in schools, and a new framework for classroom technology.
Listen to the full episode of House Rules hosted by Rep. Ariel Defay with guest Emily Bell McCormick on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
How Did Utah Expand Maternity Leave for State Employees?
Expanding support for Utah families was a major priority for the House majority caucus this session, and maternity leave was a key part of that push.
H.B. 329, State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Defay, increases paid postpartum recovery leave for state employees from three to six weeks. Combined with the existing three weeks of parental leave, eligible employees may take up to nine weeks following childbirth. The bill also creates a new four-week foster leave category as a standalone entitlement and provides six weeks of paid adoption leave for employees adopting a child under six years old.
The change came out of a House pro-family working group convened during the interim to address declining fertility rates and rising costs of living. And the goal was straightforward, Rep. Defay said: give new mothers more time to recover, bond with their child, and return to work with greater stability.
Bell McCormick pointed to the research behind the policy. Maternity leave is among the most studied family policies in the world, she said, with outcomes that benefit mothers, infants, and employers alike. Expanded leave is linked to roughly “a 70% reduction in people leaving the workforce” – a direct cost savings for the state.
During the session, Bell McCormick and Rep. Defay heard from families across Utah. The feedback was consistent. The feedback was consistent.
“The lack of maternity leave was such a big struggle for Utah’s families,” Bell McCormick said. “Your body needs time to recover and to heal.”
Beyond the economics, Bell McCormick said, the response from Utah women was personal “Utah women felt very seen,” she said. “This is going to help me. It will help my family.”
What Does Utah's Bell-to-Bell Cellphone Law Mean for Students?
S.B. 69, School Device Revisions – carried by Rep. Doug Welton in the House – establishes a default statewide policy requiring students to put away their cellphones, smart watches, and emerging technologies when they arrive at school and keep them away until the final bell. The policy is widely known as the Bell to Bell Bill.
Schools that have already adopted their own phone policies are not overridden. The bill also allows accommodations for students with medical or other documented needs.
The data behind the policy is striking. Before similar restrictions went into place in piloted them, students were receiving about 237 notifications per day.
Bell McCormick said the results have been measurable: test scores increased by up to 15% in some schools, with the largest gains among the lowest-performing students, cyberbullying decreased, attendance improved, and mental health visits declined.
The cultural shift has been just as notable.
“Our lunchrooms are loud,” Bell McCormick said, relaying what principals told her. “Before, it’s lunch and it’s just quiet. Everyone is scrolling. And now they go in – people are bringing cards, they’re playing games, they’re laughing, they’re talking.”
Rep. Defay said the phone policy reflects a broader commitment to student wellbeing.
“We are always putting our kids at the forefront,” Rep. Defay said. “We’re creating flexibility for local control but ensuring that our children are getting the very best education possible.”
How Is Utah Making Sure Technology Actually Helps Students Learn?
Rep. Defay called H.B. 273, Classroom Technology Amendments, her favorite bill of her legislative career. The bill establishes a statewide framework for technology use from kindergarten through 12th grade, with grade-level guardrails designed to match the research on student outcomes.
The bill prohibits screen-time in grades K through 3, with narrow exceptions for introducing computer science standards and administering assessments. That provision came directly from early elementary teachers who told Rep. Defay that screens were making things worse, not better. “We are seeing more behavioral issues in the classroom once we’ve used screens,” she said. “It would be better if they were completely removed.”
For middle school students, parents must opt in writing to allow a school-issued device to go home. For high school students, devices may go home by default unless a parent opts out. The change addresses a persistent frustration for families dealing with take-home technology policies.
The bill also adds an AI component. Rep. Defay, who sits on the Legislature’s AI task force, said her view of the technology is a mix of optimism and caution. “I’m optimistic about a lot of the problems it can solve and also very, very scared about some of the potential pitfalls,” she said. H.B. 273 requires AI literacy to be woven into the K–12 curriculum so students understand what AI is, how to use it responsibly, and how to maintain limits on reliance – particularly on generative AI – before entering the workforce.
All provisions include local control, allowing school districts to tailor the framework to their communities.
“We’re not anti-technology,” Rep. Defay said. “We just want to ensure that education technology is used intentionally and actually helping students to learn.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for Utah's expanded maternity leave?
H.B. 329 applies to Utah state government employees. It does not cover LEA employees, private sector workers, or employees of higher education institutions, independent entities, or the offices of the Attorney General, State Auditor, or State Treasurer.
Does Utah's bell-to-bell law override existing school phone policies?
No. S.B. 69 sets a default statewide policy, but schools may proactively adopt their own policies that differ from the default. Local districts retain full authority to set their own rules within the framework.
Can students get a medical exemption from Utah's bell-to-bell phone policy?
Yes. S.B. 69 requires schools to allow students to use their phones in response to emergencies, for IEP or 504 accommodation plans, and to address medical necessity.
Schools must also establish a policy allowing parents to request that their child briefly use a phone in a designated area during non-instructional time.
What does Utah's classroom technology law actually restrict?
No. H.B. 273 sets grade-level frameworks for technology use.
Screens are prohibited in K-3 classrooms except for introducing computer science standards and administering assessments.
Grades 4-6 allow technology only under direct teacher supervision for a defined academic purpose.
Middle and high school students may take devices home under opt-in and opt-out policies respectively. The bill’s goal is intentional, effective use – not elimination.
What does Utah's new AI curriculum requirement mean for students?
H.B. 273 directs the State Board of Education to include AI standards in core computer science standards and to publish a model AI use policy by December 1, 2026. Local districts must adopt their own AI use policy based on that model. The bill also allows high schools to offer an optional AI sandbox course focused on hands-on experimentation with AI technologies.
In accordance with ADA accessibility requirements, a full transcript of this episode is available upon request.
To request a transcript, email utahreps@gmail.com.