HB 100 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Electroconvulsive Therapy Prohibition Amendments

HB 100 prohibits the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for minors under 18 in Utah's mental health system. It directly affects children in residential or inpatient care settings where ECT might previously have been administered. The bill removes ECT from the list of treatments requiring a formal commitment proceeding (which previously included antipsychotics and psychosurgery) by amending Utah Code sections governing minors' mental health care. This change ensures ECT cannot be provided to minors without specific legal authorization, aligning with existing due process protections for other treatments. The law makes no new funding or procedural changes beyond this prohibition.

Issues: ✗ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially modified from a near-total prohibition on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for minors to a more nuanced approach that allows ECT under specific conditions. The original version prohibited ECT entirely for anyone under 25, while the substitute version permits ECT for minors only when they have catatonia, establishes informed consent requirements, and defines ECT more precisely. This represents a significant policy shift from an absolute ban to a regulated exception framework.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a blanket prohibition on ECT for all minors to a conditional allowance that permits ECT for minors with catatonia, while maintaining restrictions for other conditions.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed from prohibiting ECT for all minors under 25 to allowing ECT for minors only when they have catatonia, a specific medical condition.

REQUIREMENT

Added informed consent requirements for ECT administration, including provisions that non-compliance constitutes unprofessional conduct and creates a presumption of lacking informed consent under malpractice law.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'catatonia' referencing the DSM manual, and refined the definition of 'electroconvulsive therapy' to include both ECT and electroshock therapy.

Changed the age threshold from 'under 25 years old' to 'under 18 years old' for the definition of a minor, aligning with Utah's general definition of a child.

SCOPE

Removed the absolute prohibition language that prevented any ECT administration to minors regardless of medical necessity or consent.

TECHNICAL

Updated references in multiple sections to change 'electroshock therapy' to 'electroconvulsive therapy' for consistency throughout the bill.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules [House Rules Committee]

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules [House Health and Human Services Committee]

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Health and Human Services Committee]

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors