Healthcare

introduced · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 552: Behavioral Health Amendments

HB 552 amends Utah's behavioral health system by shifting administration of the Governor's Suicide Prevention Fund to the Office of Behavioral Health (replacing the governor) and creating a new community-based peer support grant program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain a database of involuntary commitments, establishes a family outreach specialist role to assist families after suicide or overdose deaths, and restructures advisory committees to better coordinate behavioral health initiatives. The bill appropriates $114.95 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2027 to support these changes. These provisions directly affect Utah residents accessing behavioral health services, state agencies managing mental health programs, and families impacted by suicide or overdose.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new peer support grants, shifts suicide prevention funding to improve mental health services, and establishes family outreach roles - directly advancing mental health care access and support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 281: Senior Nutrition Private Donation Incentives

SB 281 creates a Senior Nutrition Private Donation Matching Fund to encourage private contributions for senior meal programs. Local area agencies serving seniors can qualify for matching funds when they secure new private donations (not from program recipients or in-kind donations) that exceed prior public entity donations by a specific amount. The fund matches these qualifying donations to support home-delivered meals, with distributions based on "area need" factors like senior population served and rural service costs. This directly affects local agencies managing senior nutrition services by providing a mechanism to leverage private funding without new state appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state matching fund to leverage private donations for senior meal programs, increasing public funding for essential services without tax increases.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a matching fund for senior meal programs under Health and Human Services, directly funding nutrition services that support elderly health access and well-being.85% confidence

Tags Seniors

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 506: Assisted Living Amendments

HB 506 amends Utah's assisted living facility regulations to protect residents by limiting when facilities can discharge or transfer them and creating a formal appeals process. It requires facilities to provide written notice of discharge/transfers, allows residents or their representatives to appeal to the state department within 30 days, and prohibits discharge during an appeal unless health/safety is at immediate risk. The bill specifies five allowable reasons for discharge (e.g., facility closure, resident safety threat, or failure to pay) and mandates a hearing within 30 days (or 7 days for expedited requests) before a decision is made. These changes directly affect assisted living residents and their representatives, ensuring greater transparency and due process in facility decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects assisted living residents by limiting unjust discharges and creating appeals process, strengthening patient rights in healthcare facilities.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects assisted living residents from unjust discharges via appeals process, strengthening tenant protections in housing facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 459: Sexual Offense Evidence and Reporting Procedures Amendments

HB 459 gives sexual assault victims more control over how their case is handled. Victims can choose to receive medical treatment without reporting to police, or opt for a "limited report" (sharing only basic details) instead of a full report. The bill creates "restricted kits" for evidence collection that can be stored without testing or tested only partially, while ensuring medical costs remain the same regardless of reporting choice. It also requires a tracking system for restricted kits and updates definitions of "sexual offense" and "medical examination" to align with these new procedures. This directly affects victims, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and forensic services in Utah.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeGives sexual assault victims control over case handling, aligning with victim-centered criminal justice reform by expanding options without compromising medical costs or evidence protocols.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures medical costs remain same regardless of reporting choice, improving access to healthcare services for sexual assault victims while involving health care professionals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

Track

failed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 279: State Homeless Campus Neighbor Tax Credit

SB 279 creates a 50% nonrefundable tax credit for property owners within one mile of designated "homeless services campuses" (facilities offering emergency shelter, mental health services, and support in one location, excluding correctional centers or microshelters). It directly affects qualifying property owners who receive annual tax notices for their land near these campuses. The credit equals half the property taxes paid in the year the tax notice is issued, applied to the owner’s state tax return. This policy aims to offset costs for neighbors of these facilities through a direct tax reduction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 50% property tax credit for nearby owners, reducing tax burden - direct tax relief under tax credits subject95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates tax credit for properties near campuses offering mental health services, directly advancing access to mental health care through facility incentives.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates tax credit for property owners near homeless services campuses, incentivizing development of facilities addressing homelessness (directly aligns with housing policy indicators).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Mental Health Affordable Housing Homelessness Property Taxes

Track

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 288: Medicaid Provider Amendments

SB 288 requires Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to establish quality standards for Medicaid providers (including managed care entities and fee-for-service providers) and annually report their performance to the legislature. It mandates a new "closed loop referral system" to coordinate social needs care (like housing or food assistance) for Medicaid-eligible individuals, ensuring secure communication and tracking of referrals between providers. The bill appropriates $42.7 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund these requirements, including $16.9 million from the General Fund. This directly affects Medicaid providers through performance evaluations and new reporting duties, while improving care coordination for Medicaid enrollees with social needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $42.7 million for Medicaid provider quality standards and referral system, increasing government spending on public health services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Medicaid quality standards, mandates coordinated social needs referrals, and appropriates $42.7M to improve care access and provider performance for Medicaid recipients.92% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid

introduced · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 598: Uterine Fibroid Amendments

HB 598 requires Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate research and education about uterine fibroids, a non-cancerous uterine growth affecting many people. The department must study diagnosis rates, treatment options (including non-hysterectomy care), and reproductive impacts, while coordinating with medical research organizations and sharing data under privacy rules. It mandates reports to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee in 2028 and 2029, and the law expires on July 1, 2030. The bill directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and researchers in Utah, focusing on improving understanding and treatment options for uterine fibroids without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health department to coordinate research/education on uterine fibroids, study treatment options, and improve public health data - advancing healthcare knowledge and patient care access for a specific condition.95% confidence

Track

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

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Mental Health Substance Abuse

in committee · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 285: Uninsured Children Dental Care Amendments

SB 285 creates a new "Uninsured Children Dental Care Restricted Account" within Utah's General Fund and appropriates $5 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund dental care for uninsured children. The bill directs the University of Utah School of Dentistry's Oral Health Assistance Program to provide these services across all counties. Funds are nonlapsing for FY2027-28, with excess amounts over $200,000 lapsing to the General Fund starting FY2028-29. This bill directly affects uninsured children in Utah by expanding access to dental care through a dedicated funding mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5M from General Fund for uninsured children's dental care, directly increasing state spending on public health services per budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates $5M for dental care services for uninsured children, directly expanding access to health services and funding a healthcare program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 261: Pharmacy Practice Amendments

SB 261 amends Utah's pharmacy laws to expand pharmacists' roles and improve oversight. It allows pharmacists to prescribe vaccines and epinephrine directly, increases patient access to these services, and permits online sales of pseudoephedrine under specific safeguards. The bill also requires an electronic tracking system for pseudoephedrine sales to prevent diversion, managed by the Division of Professional Licensing and the Board of Pharmacy. These changes primarily affect pharmacists, patients seeking vaccinations or epinephrine, and retailers selling pseudoephedrine. The bill makes no changes to funding or existing pharmacy licensing structures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacists' prescribing authority for vaccines/epinephrine, directly increasing patient access to care per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs