Healthcare

vetoed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 164: Health Care Patient Reporting to the Division of Professional Licensing

HB 164 requires health care providers to give patients written information about reporting unprofessional or unlawful conduct to Utah's Division of Professional Licensing before patients sign any nondisclosure agreement. It makes such agreements legally unenforceable unless the provider first provides a standardized model notice explaining how to file a complaint. The bill directs the Division to create and publish this notice online, including details on what constitutes misconduct and the reporting process. This affects patients seeking to report provider misconduct and health care providers using nondisclosure clauses, effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires providers to disclose complaint rights before NDAs, strengthening patient protections in healthcare provider interactions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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 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 599: Social Services Funding Amendments

HB 599 amends Utah's social services funding to redirect interest earned from the Medicaid ACA Fund into the General Fund, freeing up $759,700 annually for 2026-2027. It adds immunosuppressive drugs to Medicaid's preferred drug list and transitions the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) into Medicaid, with dental services for CHIP beneficiaries to be provided through the University of Utah School of Dentistry. The bill also allocates funds from electronic cigarette taxes to support substance use treatment and prevention services. These changes directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries, CHIP enrollees (now covered under Medicaid), and individuals seeking substance use treatment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects Medicaid ACA Fund interest to General Fund, freeing $759k annually for fiscal management and allocates e-cig tax revenue.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds immunosuppressive drugs to Medicaid, transitions CHIP to Medicaid with dental services, and allocates new funds - expands coverage and access without defunding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 174: Exercise of Religious Beliefs and Conscience Amendments

SB 174 allows health care providers, institutions, and payers in Utah to refuse participation in certain medical services (like pregnancy termination disposal) based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It requires providers who refuse such services to notify their institution and prohibits retaliation, discrimination, or adverse actions against them for exercising this right. The bill also shields these individuals from civil, criminal, or administrative liability and mandates health care payers to disclose services they won’t cover due to conscience objections. It defines key terms like "conscience" and "adverse action" to clarify protections and enforcement mechanisms. The bill makes no changes to funding and applies to all covered health care entities under Utah law.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareAllows refusal of abortion services, restricting patient access to care and opposing healthcare access expansion per bill's refusal provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ 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 · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 98: Substance Use Rehabilitation Amendments

SB 98 creates a voluntary certification program for employers to become "recovery ready workplaces," administered by Utah's Department of Health and Human Services. Employers seeking certification must implement specific practices, including preventing workplace factors that contribute to substance use disorders, reducing stigma, providing employee education, making naloxone (an opiate antagonist) available, and supporting employees accessing treatment. The bill authorizes the department to establish application criteria and an application process, with potential funding from the Electronic Cigarette Substance and Nicotine Product Proceeds Restricted Account. This program directly affects employers who choose to participate, aiming to improve workplace support for employees with substance use disorders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates employer practices supporting substance use treatment access, naloxone availability, and stigma reduction - directly advancing public health and mental health services via workplace programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates naloxone availability and treatment support in workplaces, directly improving employee health safety and reducing stigma per Labor & Employment standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare