Utah lawmakers approve bill requiring daily Pledge of Allegiance at all public schools

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah lawmakers have approved a bill requiring all public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily.

Senate Bill 223 expands the current law that mandates the pledge daily for elementary school students and once a week for those in middle and high school.

The bill passed the House 48-25 on Tuesday, and passed the Senate unanimously a week earlier. It now heads to the governor's desk for approval.

The proposal drew impassioned speeches from legislators. Orem Republican Rep. Stephen Sandstrom said people nowadays are being taught to be ashamed of being Americans, and said he had Marine friends who died defending the flag.

Salt Lake City Democratic Rep. Brian King questioned whether reciting the pledge rote was instilling patriotism. Others say they worry the bill could prompt lawsuits.