Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 121: Medical Cannabis Program Amendments

SB 121 amends Utah's medical cannabis program to clarify rules and improve accessibility for patients and providers. Key changes include allowing legal guardians to obtain medical cannabis cards for incapacitated adults, creating a voucher program for patients to access cannabis or devices, and updating transportation and safe storage requirements for deliveries. The bill also streamlines administrative processes, such as revising how providers access patient information and simplifying identification requirements for cardholders. These changes affect medical cannabis patients, licensed providers, and delivery services operating under Utah's current program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends medical cannabis program to enhance patient access via guardian provisions, voucher system, and streamlined administrative processes, directly improving healthcare accessibility for patients.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 416: First Responder Health Modifications

HB 416 creates the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Trust Fund to provide financial support for firefighters diagnosed with cancer presumed to be work-related. The bill redirects existing revenue from property and life insurance premiums (specifically 50% of the first $4 million from property insurance tax and 10% of the first $1 million from life insurance tax) to fund this trust, replacing prior allocations. The trust fund, administered by an 11-member board (including firefighters, fire chiefs, medical experts, and officials), will cover benefits for affected firefighters and their families, with assets protected from creditor claims. This bill modifies tax distribution rules without new appropriations, directly affecting Utah firefighters with presumptive cancer diagnoses under existing law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing property/life insurance tax revenue to fund firefighter cancer benefits, aligning with funding essential programs via budget reallocation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides financial support for cancer treatment via a trust fund, advancing healthcare access for firefighters diagnosed with work-related cancer.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates trust fund for firefighter cancer benefits, expanding worker health protections and financial support for work-related illnesses under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 259: Parental Access to Children's Medical Records Amendments

This bill requires Utah healthcare facilities to provide parents or legal guardians full access to minors' electronic medical records, unless exceptions apply (such as a minor's consent for specific treatments, a court order, or if the parent isn't legally authorized under state/federal law). It mandates electronic health record vendors to ensure systems support this access and authorizes the attorney general to enforce compliance with fines up to $10,000 per day. Facilities must also provide paper records free of charge upon request if electronic access is restricted. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, and aligns with federal privacy standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates parental access to minors' medical records, improving caregiver access to health information and aligning with patient rights protections in healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 269: Ambulance Provider Payment Amendments

HB 269 amends Utah's ambulance payment rules to directly affect ambulance providers and health insurers or workers' compensation carriers. It requires the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services to annually adjust base rates based on medical inflation, explicitly includes medication costs in the base rate (previously excluded), and allows providers to collect both base rates and mileage fees. The bill also clarifies that health plans must pay providers directly for covered ambulance services without balance billing for uncovered portions. These changes take effect January 1, 2027, with no new state funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAmends ambulance payment rules to include medication costs, adjust for inflation, and require direct payment, improving provider compensation and access to emergency services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 122: Pregnant and Postpartum Inmate Amendments

HB 122 requires Utah correctional facilities to report the number of pregnant inmates and inmates who are parents of minor children. It extends postpartum recovery care to 12 weeks, prohibits restraints during this period without specific security justification, and increases social worker access from six to 12 weeks to help inmates arrange childcare, plan family reunification, and access substance abuse treatment if needed. The bill also clarifies that facilities must provide postpartum medical care for 12 weeks after childbirth. These changes directly affect pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals in Utah state prisons and county jails.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends postpartum care, prohibits unnecessary restraints, and increases social worker access for rehabilitation and family reunification - directly advancing inmate welfare within correctional systems.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends postpartum medical care to 12 weeks and increases social worker access for substance abuse treatment, enhancing healthcare access for incarcerated individuals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HCR 10: Concurrent Resolution Directing PEHP Regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy

This concurrent resolution directs Utah's Public Employees' Benefit and Insurance Program (PEHP) to add hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatments for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms to its drug formulary. It specifically affects state employees covered by PEHP health plans, requiring the program to include these treatments in its approved medications. The resolution does not address "black box" warnings but mandates PEHP to cover HRT for symptom relief. As a procedural directive, it guides an agency's existing policy without creating new law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects PEHP to add HRT to drug formulary, expanding insurance coverage for state employees' menopausal symptom treatment without restrictions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates inclusion of HRT in state employee health plan, expanding covered benefits for perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms under PEHP.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 572: Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments

HB 572 updates Utah's behavioral and mental health systems to improve coordination and support. It requires standardized consent forms for disclosing mental health conditions to providers and law enforcement, mandates jail screening tool transparency, and shifts administration of the suicide prevention fund to a dedicated office. The bill creates a peer support specialist program, establishes a family outreach role for suicide/overdose cases, and amends involuntary commitment procedures. It appropriates $750,000 for implementation in fiscal year 2027, directly affecting justice-involved individuals, mental health providers, and families impacted by behavioral health crises.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill integrates mental health support into criminal justice system via jail screenings, peer specialists, and transparency mandates, aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates peer support specialists, family outreach for overdoses, and shifts suicide prevention fund to dedicated office - expands mental health services and coordination.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 389: Cannabis Amendments

HB 389 amends Utah's medical cannabis laws to simplify licensing for processors, allowing them to make cannabinoid (hemp) products without an extra license. It creates a new fee on medical cannabis purchases for enforcement, moves oversight of the medical cannabis program to the Department of Agriculture and Food, and allows low-THC products (under 0.3% THC) to be sold by pharmacies. The bill also enables patients to get medical cannabis cards via virtual doctor visits and renames the licensing board to the Specialized Product Authority Licensing Board. These changes directly affect medical cannabis processors, pharmacies, patients, and state agencies managing the program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access via virtual appointments and pharmacy sales of low-THC products, improving healthcare service availability for medical cannabis patients.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HCR 8: Concurrent Resolution Directing PEHP to Establish the Weight Management and Obesity Pilot Program

This bill directs Utah's Public Employees' Benefit Insurance Program (PEHP) to create a new "Weight Management and Obesity Pilot Program" starting in 2026. It combines PEHP's existing bariatric surgery pilot with an alternative option for covered state employees to receive GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) instead of surgery, while staying within the existing $1.05 million annual budget. Key provisions include requiring 50% member cost-sharing, capping monthly pharmacy expenses at $300, limiting coverage to 24 months, and applying the same health coaching requirements to both options. The program allows eligible members (with BMI over 40 or 35+ with health conditions) to choose once between surgery or GLP-1 treatment, with annual reports to lawmakers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands healthcare access by adding GLP-1 drug coverage as an alternative to bariatric surgery within existing budget, improving treatment options for state employees under PEHP.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 150: Healthcare Providers Scope of Practice Amendments

SB 150 creates a formal process for reviewing whether healthcare practitioners (like nurses or therapists) should be allowed to use new technologies in their practice. It requires Utah's Office of Professional Licensure Review to conduct these "scope of practice reviews" when requested by legislators, healthcare employers, or professional groups. The office must convene advisory groups including affected practitioners, assess if the technology improves care access, outcomes, or costs, and then submit a report to the Business and Labor Committee. The bill does not change current practice standards but establishes a structured method for evaluating potential expansions to healthcare occupations' scope.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates process to assess new technologies improving care access, outcomes, and costs for healthcare practitioners, aligning with support indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare