HB 218 amends Utah’s requirements for digital literacy education in grades 7 and 8, directly affecting public school students in those grades starting the 2027-2028 school year. The bill defines specific digital skills concepts (such as online ethics, AI literacy, cybersecurity, social media impact, and misinformation evaluation) that must be covered in the course. It also establishes an advisory tech council to guide curriculum development, recommend resources, and advise on emerging technologies. The changes update existing education codes without new funding, focusing on standardizing digital literacy instruction across Utah schools.
HB 402 creates a new state license specifically for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies to legally handle controlled substances (like naloxone or epinephrine) during emergencies. It requires EMS agencies to obtain this license, mandates record-keeping and storage rules, and authorizes the Division of Professional Licensing to enforce standards, deny/suspend licenses for violations, and collect fees. The bill directly affects all Utah EMS agencies currently distributing controlled substances, ensuring they operate under unified state regulations instead of relying solely on federal rules. Key provisions include requiring medical directors to issue standing orders for substance administration and setting clear procedures for license management and inspections.
HB 394 amends Utah's Veterinary Practice Act by updating definitions and clarifying rules related to veterinary services. It specifically revises terms like "veterinary services," "volunteer health practitioner," and "emergency" to better define how these concepts apply during disasters or public health events. These changes directly affect veterinarians, animal health facilities, and emergency response organizations that provide veterinary care during crises, ensuring consistent application of existing laws without creating new requirements or costs.
HB 174 prohibits health care providers in Utah from administering cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers to minors after January 28, 2027, unless the minor was diagnosed with gender dysphoria before January 28, 2023. The bill amends Utah Code Section 58-1-603.1 to establish this ban, directly affecting minors seeking these treatments who do not meet the pre-2023 diagnosis requirement. It repeals a prior requirement for medical evidence reviews (Section 26B-1-239) and takes effect on May 6, 2026. The law applies to all minors under Utah's definition, with violations classified as unprofessional conduct for providers.
HB 342 changes Utah's process for accepting federal grants by raising the approval threshold from $1 million to $5 million annually for new requests. It requires state agencies to first get approval from the Executive Appropriations Committee and then the full Legislature for high-dollar grants ($5M+), before submitting to the federal government. The bill also mandates that the Senate and House leaders create legislative oversight committees to monitor approved large grants. These changes apply to executive branch agencies, the judicial branch, and the State Board of Education when seeking federal funds that require no new state employee costs or matching funds. The bill does not appropriate new money but adds review steps to ensure legislative oversight of significant federal funding.
This bill changes Utah school device rules to ban cellphones, smart watches, and similar "emerging technology" during all school hours (including lunch, recess, and transitions), not just during instructional time. It affects all students in Utah public schools by expanding device restrictions from classroom hours to the entire school day. Exceptions allow device use for emergencies, medical needs, IEP accommodations, or the SafeUT Crisis Line. School districts must adopt policies aligning with these rules, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 374 revises licensing requirements for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and hearing instrument specialists in Utah. It repeals the existing Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Licensing Board, removes an exemption allowing licensure through the State Board of Education, and creates an alternative licensure path for these professionals. The bill also aligns unprofessional conduct standards between hearing instrument specialists and audiologists, allows audiologists to supervise hearing instrument specialist interns, and permits temporary working groups to assist the licensing division when no board exists. These changes streamline licensing processes and standardize regulations for these healthcare providers.
SB 222 amends Utah's "Right to Try" law to expand access to investigational drugs. It removes the requirement that patients have a terminal illness, instead allowing individuals with serious conditions that pose significant risks compared to experimental treatments and limited conventional options to qualify. The bill updates definitions to clarify "eligible illness" and expands permissible medicinal dosage forms (e.g., adding transdermal and sublingual options). This change directly affects patients seeking experimental treatments who previously faced eligibility barriers due to non-terminal diagnoses. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.
SB 225 amends Utah's Utah Inland Port Authority and State Fair Park Authority statutes to clarify boundary definitions and development processes. It allows the authority to define project areas using legal descriptions, parcel numbers, or other precise methods, and establishes procedures for adjusting these boundaries. The bill also modifies rules about using property tax differentials as business incentives within the authority's jurisdiction in capital cities. These changes aim to streamline project planning and boundary management without new funding.
SB 202 limits local governments' ability to restrict mowing on private golf courses by prohibiting ordinances that ban maintenance between 5:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. It directly affects private golf courses within city or county boundaries, ensuring they can mow during those hours. The bill allows municipalities or counties to restrict mowing on their *own* publicly owned golf courses at any time. This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and amends Utah Code sections 10-8-85.11 and 17-60-509.
SB 227 limits punitive damages in personal injury cases involving motor vehicles. It caps punitive damages at either twice the economic damages or $200,000, whichever is lower, and sets a maximum of $750,000 for non-economic damages. The bill also restricts attorney fees related to punitive damages to 25% of the total award. This directly affects plaintiffs suing for injuries in motor vehicle accidents and defendants facing such claims, changing how damages are calculated and recovered.
SB 193 adds Good Friday as a legal holiday in Utah, making it the 11th official state holiday. This change directly affects state employees, public schools, and businesses that follow Utah's legal holiday schedule, requiring them to close or provide holiday pay on this day. The bill amends Utah Code Section 63G-1-301 to explicitly include "the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday" in the list of legal holidays. It also makes minor technical adjustments to the holiday calendar without appropriating funds. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
