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Bill

SB 174

Exercise of Religious Beliefs and Conscience Amendments

2026 General Session Introduced by Karianne Lisonbee and 1 co-sponsor

Utah expands religious and conscience-based exemptions from legal requirements across healthcare, employment, education, and public accommodations sectors.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · SB 174

Legislative bill overview

SB 174 expands protections for individuals and organizations to exercise religious beliefs and conscience objections in Utah. The bill broadens existing conscience exemptions across multiple contexts, including healthcare, education, employment, and public accommodations. It became law on March 25, 2026.

Why is this important

This legislation significantly impacts how religious exemptions interact with anti-discrimination protections and public services. The expanded scope could affect access to services, hiring practices, and the balance between religious freedom claims and civil rights protections in real-world scenarios.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of exemptions: Broader conscience protections may conflict with existing anti-discrimination laws, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ individuals and other protected classes seeking services or employment
  • Healthcare access concerns: Religious exemptions in medical settings raise questions about patient access to lawful medical procedures and treatments, especially reproductive and gender-affirming care
  • Vagueness in application: "Conscience" is subjective; the bill's language may create uncertainty about when exemptions legally apply versus when they constitute discrimination

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

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