HB 467 modifies Utah's Fits All Scholarship Program to clarify eligibility and strengthen oversight. It requires students to be under 19 as of September 1 of the scholarship year and establishes consumer protection standards for how scholarship funds are spent. The bill also enhances program oversight, improves customer service standards for participants, and makes technical updates to program administration rules. These changes directly affect Utah students in kindergarten through 12th grade applying for the scholarship, ensuring clearer eligibility and better safeguards for scholarship funds. The bill does not appropriate new funds but adjusts existing program operations.
SB 305 modifies how Utah calculates Medicaid hospital provider assessments and integrates quality incentive arrangements into Medicaid accountable care organization payment rates. It directly affects Utah hospitals serving Medicaid patients by requiring them to meet specific quality standards to qualify for additional payments. Key provisions include using funds from the Hospital Provider Assessment Expendable Revenue Fund to support quality strategies (capping annual spending at $211,300) and monitoring how accountable care organizations distribute funds to hospitals (capping annual spending at $200,000). The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and updates existing Medicaid payment structures without appropriating new state funds.
SB 319 requires Utah health insurance companies to increase transparency around preauthorization processes. It mandates insurers to post detailed preauthorization requirements and statistics on their websites, disclose if they use artificial intelligence in reviews, and make decisions within seven days. The bill also sets minimum validity periods for authorizations covering chronic or long-term care conditions and requires independent medical judgment for denials. These changes directly affect insurers, healthcare providers submitting requests, and patients seeking covered services.
SB 286 modifies Utah's licensing rules for commercial interior designers by removing restrictions that previously limited their practice to specific building types (occupancy groups B and M) and an 8-foot wall height limit. The bill allows licensed designers to work on interior projects in *any* building classification, as long as the work involves only non-structural elements like finishes, fixtures, and non-load-bearing partitions. This directly affects Utah-licensed interior designers who can now practice more broadly without requiring architect oversight for certain projects. The changes clarify definitions, add penalties for misrepresenting certification status, and align rules with current building codes.
SB 244 requires all Utah public schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs) by the 2026-2027 school year, directly affecting every school within a local education agency (LEA). The bill mandates that CERPs include evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care protocols, proper placement and maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and training for staff in CPR and AED use. It establishes a $200,000 grant program prioritizing high-needs schools (those with Title I status or over 50% free/reduced lunch students) to cover AED purchases, maintenance, and staff training. The State Board of Education will oversee implementation and set rules for compliance, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.
HB 527 amends Utah's pharmacy pricing rules to require pharmacy benefit managers to base reimbursement rates only on drugs rated "A" or "B" in the FDA's Orange Book (or similar ratings) that are not obsolete and generally available in the state. It clarifies key terms like "maximum allowable cost" and "rebate," and grants the Insurance Department authority to create implementing rules. This directly affects pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurers by changing how drug reimbursement rates are calculated. The bill does not appropriate funds or create new taxes.
HB 502 establishes standardized citizenship grading for Utah students, requiring schools to use consistent state-defined criteria for skills like attendance, participation, and meeting deadlines. Parents can opt their children out of citizenship grades, in which case students receive academic grades only and are ineligible for a related higher education scholarship program funded by voluntary tax contributions. The bill also creates statewide test-out options for core classes (English, math, science, social studies) allowing students to earn credit without taking the course, beginning in 2027. Attendance-based grading is permitted, but individualized attendance plans are repealed. These changes affect all Utah public school students, parents, and school districts, with key provisions taking effect in the 2027-2028 school year.
HB 547 defines "transnational repression" as foreign government or terrorist organization actions targeting individuals in Utah (like threats, surveillance, or immigration coercion) to control their behavior. It requires Utah's public universities to inform international students about this repression and how to report it to law enforcement. The bill also adds criminal penalties for crimes committed under foreign government direction to influence a victim's actions. This directly affects international students and victims of foreign-directed crimes, creating new reporting mechanisms and legal consequences for specific offenses.
HB 590 ensures children transitioning out of foster care in Utah can continue seeing their existing mental health therapist without losing coverage. It requires insurers to offer special agreements for these children (called "covered children") to access out-of-network therapists who provided care while they were in foster care, with the same cost-sharing as in-network providers. The Division of Child and Family Services must also coordinate with therapists when children enter or leave foster care to maintain treatment continuity. This applies specifically to children receiving outpatient mental health services, excluding those in residential or higher-level care facilities.
HB 535 modifies Utah's rules for how local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) can sell or transfer publicly owned property. It requires local entities to first determine if property qualifies as a "significant parcel," and if so, obtain public approval for its sale during a formal meeting. The bill also clarifies that school districts can sell surplus property under specific conditions if no other buyer purchases it within a set timeframe, and repeals a minor criminal penalty related to property disposal. These changes aim to standardize and increase transparency in public property sales across Utah jurisdictions.
HB 450 amends Utah's Government Data Privacy Act and Government Records Access and Management Act to strengthen state data privacy oversight. It restructures the Utah Privacy Commission to include state agencies, cities, counties, and education representatives, transfers oversight to a new Utah Office of Data Privacy, and creates a data privacy ombudsman to handle complaints. The bill requires joint studies on government use of passive data collection technology and removes duplicative rules while expanding correction procedures beyond personal data. These changes directly affect Utah state and local government entities that collect or manage public data.
SB 73 requires online platforms providing content deemed harmful to minors to implement age verification systems. It imposes an excise tax on these platforms, with revenues funding mental health programs and enforcement through the Division of Consumer Protection. The bill creates two dedicated accounts for these funds and grants the Division authority to investigate violations, impose fines, and establish verification standards. Platforms failing to comply face civil penalties, while approved verification methods receive a safe harbor from liability.
