HB 257 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Opiate Information Amendments

HB 257 requires pharmacies, not the state, to provide patients receiving opiate prescriptions with a pamphlet covering addiction risks, safe storage/disposal methods, pain management alternatives, naloxone benefits, and substance use disorder resources. The pamphlets must be written in simple language, available in multiple languages, and periodically reviewed for effectiveness. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new state funding required. It directly affects pharmacies dispensing opiates and patients receiving such prescriptions.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Failed

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift responsibility for creating opiate prevention pamphlets from pharmacies to the Department of Health and Human Services, which must now make the materials available online. Additionally, a new section was added to the state's controlled substance labeling laws requiring pharmacies to offer naloxone and provide counseling to patients receiving high-risk opiate prescriptions.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single requirement for pharmacies to provide pamphlets to a broader mandate for the state department to create and host the materials, and a new requirement for pharmacies to offer naloxone and counseling to specific high-risk patients.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for opiate prevention pamphlets from being a duty of individual pharmacies to a duty of the Department of Health and Human Services to create and make the materials available online.

Added a new requirement for pharmacies to offer counseling on and dispense naloxone to patients receiving high-dose opiates or those taking both opiates and benzodiazepines within a 30-day period.

Added a new requirement for pharmacies to affix specific overdose warning labels to containers of Schedule II or III opiate prescriptions.

Removed the provision allowing pharmacies to avoid displaying the pamphlet if they were unable to obtain it from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Floor votes · House Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

26–45

Failed · 4 other

Total votes 75

Feb 27, 2026

D Democratic14

13 Nay 1

92% Nay

R Republican61

26 Yea 32 Nay 3

52% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 27, 2026

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (26-45-4)

house

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Health and Human Services Committee]

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Health and Human Services Committee]

lower

Feb 18, 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