SB 300 Utah Senate · 2026 General Session

Single Payer Health Insurance Amendments

SB 300 would establish Utah's state-run health financing program, replacing Medicaid and public employee health plans for all residents and government employees. It creates the Utah Health Services Commission to manage the program, requires healthcare facilities to stop billing directly (with the state billing on their behalf), and transitions existing health programs into the new system. The program would be funded by a new tax, while certain outdated health programs would be repealed. This bill directly affects all Utah residents, government employees, and healthcare providers through these structural changes to the state's health coverage system.

Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

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Introduced → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's health financing legislation to establish a state-operated single-payer health program called 'Utah Cares.' The changes create a new Utah Health Services Commission to oversee the program, transition Medicaid and public employee health benefits into this new system, and prohibit healthcare facilities from billing patients directly. The bill also establishes a new Utah Health Care Tax to fund the program and moves health workforce councils from the Department of Health and Human Services to the new Commission.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of state health financing from a limited public employee program to a universal state-operated system covering all Utah residents, while also incorporating Medicaid and transitioning public employee benefits into the new structure.

SCOPE

Establishes a new state-operated health financing program called 'Utah Cares' that allows all state residents to enroll, expanding beyond the current limited public employee coverage.

Moves health workforce councils and offices from the Department of Health and Human Services to the new Utah Health Services Commission.

FISCAL

Creates a new Utah Health Care Tax to fund the state-operated health financing program.

REQUIREMENT

Prohibits healthcare facilities from billing individuals directly and requires the state program to bill on behalf of healthcare facilities.

TIMELINE

Sets transition dates for Medicaid (January 1, 2028), public employee enrollment (January 1, 2028), and universal enrollment (January 1, 2029).

DEFINITION

Creates the Utah Health Services Commission with seven members appointed by the governor to design and administer the health financing program.

ELIGIBILITY

Expands eligibility to include all Utah residents, not just public employees or those currently enrolled in Medicaid.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

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Committee

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors