Healthcare

HB 117 requires Utah residents to receive organ donation registration information during three key state interactions: when using the Division of Wildlife Resources website, during initial healthcare facility visits, and in individual income tax forms or instructions. It also mandates the Department of Health to form a coalition creating a statewide communication plan for life-saving programs through state channels. The bill adds specific requirements for healthcare facilities to ask patients about donation status and provides links to the online donor registry on tax materials and state websites. These changes aim to increase registration rates by making information accessible at common state service touchpoints, with no new funding required.

SB 297 clarifies who can provide mental health support in Utah public schools by updating definitions for "qualifying personnel" (including licensed school social workers, counselors, and psychologists) and "behavioral health support personnel" (non-licensed staff assisting students). It requires the State Board of Education to create guidance based on licensing rules from the Division of Professional Licensing, ensuring schools follow proper training and supervision standards. The bill also establishes how existing state funds for school-based mental health services must be distributed to school districts, with requirements for annual reporting and collaboration with local mental health authorities. It does not appropriate new money but specifies that funds cannot replace existing federal or state funding for mental health staff. The changes primarily affect public schools, school districts, and licensed mental health professionals working in educational settings.

HB 14 extends the expiration date for Utah's Behavior Analyst Licensing Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. This change ensures the law governing behavior analyst licensure remains in effect for an additional decade, preventing its automatic repeal. The bill includes minor technical adjustments to the relevant code but does not alter licensing requirements for behavior analysts. This extension directly affects behavior analysts and the state's regulatory process for their professional licensing.

HB 28 extends the expiration dates for several health-related programs and committees under Utah's Department of Health and Human Services. It specifically delays the sunset (repeal) of programs like the Rare Disease Advisory Council Grant Program, Newborn Hearing Screening Committee, Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Grant Program, and Behavioral Health Receiving Center Grant Program, pushing their expiration dates from 2026 to 2036 or later. The bill amends Utah Code sections to adjust these repeal deadlines without creating new programs or appropriating funds. These changes directly affect the ongoing operation of these advisory bodies and grant initiatives, allowing them to continue functioning past their original expiration dates.

HB 356 clarifies Utah's rules for the federal 340B drug discount program, which provides discounted medications to eligible healthcare organizations. It defines key terms like "340B covered entity" (e.g., hospitals or clinics participating in the federal program) and prohibits drug manufacturers from restricting contracts between pharmacies and these entities or requiring excessive data sharing beyond federal requirements. The bill directly affects 340B-covered entities, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers by ensuring they cannot interfere with program participation or impose unnecessary conditions. It makes technical updates to Utah law without new funding, aligning state rules with federal program standards.

HB 7 is the Social Services Base Budget for Utah’s fiscal years 2026 and 2027, providing $8.6 billion in total funding to state agencies, primarily the Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects programs like Child and Family Services, Medicaid, mental health services, and health care administration by allocating specific funds - such as $1.588 billion from the General Fund for 2027 and $53.38 million for legal cost reporting. Key provisions include requiring the Health and Human Services Department to report to lawmakers by May 2026 on attorney fees for child welfare services, including historical costs and funding gaps. The bill establishes concrete budget allocations for operations, capital projects, and specific initiatives without changing program eligibility or creating new requirements.