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HCR 12

Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

2026 General Session Introduced by Keven Stratton and 1 co-sponsor

Utah endorses and coordinates a statewide 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, with education, community programs, and statewide participation

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HCR 12

Summary of HCR 12 (2026) – Utah Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

Purpose and Intent

  • Declares the Utah Legislature’s support for celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which occurred on July 4, 1776, with a culminating focus in July 2026.
  • Establishes Independence Week (the first week of July 2026) and endorses Utah’s America250 Utah Commission’s statewide programming to educate, engage, and unite Utahns around the anniversary.
  • Encourages broad participation by counties, cities, schools, higher education institutions, and state agencies in alignment with the America250 Utah vision.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Recognition and Celebration
    • Proclaims July 4, 2026 as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and designates the first week of July 2026 as Independence Week.
    • Expresses support for programs and events overseen by the America250 Utah Commission and the Department of Cultural and Community Engagement.
  • Education and Civic Engagement
    • Directs higher education institutions to incorporate the anniversary year into the 2026 calendar through curricula, programming, or scholarly activity related to foundational principles.
    • Directs local school districts and charter schools to commence the 2026–2027 school year with instruction and engagement on the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the signers’ historical significance, in conjunction with Constitution Week (September 2026).
    • Calls for civics education resources and programming for teachers, including specific initiatives such as:
    • The Pen is Mightier: Writing a Revolution (exhibit at the Utah State Capitol in 2026 and traveling to all 29 counties)
    • Walk250 Utah (a 250-mile walking/rolling challenge)
    • Serving A Common Cause (civic engagement and service campaign)
    • Exploring the Declaration of Independence at 250 speaker series
  • Local Engagement and Community Building
    • Encourages counties and cities to participate as Utah250 Communities and to organize their own related celebrations and programs.
    • Promotes volunteerism, community improvement, and recognition of Utah’s landscapes and veterans, aligned with America250 Utah’s themes of education, engagement, and unity.
    • Encourages Legislature members to actively participate in schools and communities within their districts during 2026.
  • No Fiscal Implications
    • The bill includes a fiscal note indicating no new state revenues or expenditures are anticipated as a direct result of enacting HCR 12.

Who Is Affected

  • State government and the executive (Governor) as the concurrent resolution expresses support and directs policy alignment.
  • Utah’s America250 Commission and the Department of Cultural and Community Engagement (educational and outreach programming).
  • Local education systems (districts, charter schools, and institutions of higher education) and their students.
  • Higher education institutions (need to incorporate anniversary activities into 2026 curricula and events).
  • Local counties and municipalities (as Utah250 Communities or similar collaborations).
  • General public and Utahns, through civics education programs, museum exhibits, walking initiatives, and community service activities.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • The measure passed through House and Senate committees with favorable recommendations and progressed to final approval, receiving the Governor’s signature in March 2026.
  • Official actions noted:
    • House: Passed and transmitted for signature; enrolled and sent for the Governor’s signature (February–March 2026).
    • Senate: Passed and sent to House for enrollment; Governor signed (March 2026).
  • Enactment timeline centers on the 2026 calendar year, culminating in Independence Week in early July 2026, with ongoing educational activities during 2026.

Additional Context (From Supporting Materials)

  • The America250 Utah Commission was created in 2023 to coordinate statewide celebration activities for the anniversary, emphasizing education, engagement, and unity with a Utah heritage lens.
  • The accompanying materials detail the Commission’s initiatives and the intention for broad-based community participation and school involvement throughout 2025–2026, culminating in the anniversary year.

If you’d like, I can provide a section-by-section extraction of specific programs (Pen is Mightier, Walk250 Utah, Serving A Common Cause, etc.) or compare HCR 12 to similar commemorative measures in other states.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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