Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 45: Kratom Adjustments

SB 45 repeals Utah's 2019 Kratom Consumer Protection Act and classifies alkaloids found in kratom as Schedule I controlled substances under state law. This change directly affects kratom users and businesses in Utah, removing previous regulatory protections and making kratom possession or sale illegal under state law. The bill amends Utah's controlled substances code to include kratom alkaloids in Schedule I, which prohibits use due to no accepted medical purpose and high abuse potential. This policy shift reverses prior regulations that allowed regulated sale and use of kratom products.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareClassifies kratom alkaloids as Schedule I controlled substances, restricting access to a substance sometimes used for health purposes, under Health and Human Services jurisdiction.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes 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 Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 471: Social Services Amendments

HB 471 amends Utah's Medicaid and SNAP programs to implement work requirements for certain adults (ages 19-64, not pregnant or disabled), stricter verification for income, residency, and citizenship, and new citizenship eligibility rules. It requires documented proof (not self-attestation) for enrollment and annual redeterminations, and mandates hospitals to collect immigration status during applications. The bill directly affects Medicaid applicants and recipients who do not qualify for existing exemptions, beginning October 1, 2026, for citizenship rules and January 1, 2027, for work requirements. It also requires annual reports on compliance rates and exemptions to state legislators.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImposes work requirements and stricter verification on Medicaid, restricting access to healthcare coverage for eligible adults.92% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill imposes strict citizenship verification, documented proof requirements, and mandates immigration status collection for Medicaid/SNAP access, directly restricting immigrant access to state services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 329: State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments

HB 329 increases state employee paid leave for childbirth, adoption, and foster care. It extends postpartum recovery leave from 3 to 9 weeks and adds 9 weeks of paid leave for adopting children under six, plus 3 weeks for fostering children under six. School districts (LEAs) can apply for reimbursement through a new program if they implement similar paid leave policies for their employees, with $3 million appropriated for fiscal year 2027. The bill also updates the Breastfeeding Protection Act to include breast pump use and requires the Department of Human Resource Management to establish rules for administering these leave provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3 million for LEA reimbursement program, directly funding a new state budget line item to support paid leave policies for employees.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $3M for school districts to implement paid leave for staff, directly supporting educators through funding and retention benefits, aligning with education support indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases paid maternity/foster care leave and funds reimbursement, improving access to postpartum health services and aligning with breastfeeding protections.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands state employee paid leave benefits (postpartum, adoption, foster care), adds new protections, and funds LEA reimbursement programs, directly advancing worker benefits and protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 527: Pharmacy Pricing Amendments

HB 527 amends Utah's pharmacy pricing rules to require pharmacy benefit managers to base reimbursement rates only on drugs rated "A" or "B" in the FDA's Orange Book (or similar ratings) that are not obsolete and generally available in the state. It clarifies key terms like "maximum allowable cost" and "rebate," and grants the Insurance Department authority to create implementing rules. This directly affects pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurers by changing how drug reimbursement rates are calculated. The bill does not appropriate funds or create new taxes.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts reimbursement to FDA-rated A/B drugs only, limiting covered medications and potentially reducing patient access to non-rated drugs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 174: Sex Characteristic Change Treatment Amendments

HB 174 prohibits health care providers in Utah from administering cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers to minors after January 28, 2027, unless the minor was diagnosed with gender dysphoria before January 28, 2023. The bill amends Utah Code Section 58-1-603.1 to establish this ban, directly affecting minors seeking these treatments who do not meet the pre-2023 diagnosis requirement. It repeals a prior requirement for medical evidence reviews (Section 26B-1-239) and takes effect on May 6, 2026. The law applies to all minors under Utah's definition, with violations classified as unprofessional conduct for providers.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts access to gender-affirming medical treatments (hormones/puberty blockers) for minors, directly limiting healthcare options under specific conditions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 170: Vitamin K Amendments

SB 170 requires healthcare providers and unlicensed midwives to administer vitamin K to newborn infants within 24 hours of birth. Parents may decline this administration by signing a form acknowledging the risks of not receiving vitamin K, which must be included in the infant's medical record. The bill defines key terms like "health care provider" and "unlicensed direct-entry midwife" and applies to all newborns in Utah. This directly affects newborns, their caregivers, and healthcare providers during delivery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates vitamin K administration for newborns to prevent hemorrhagic disease, a standard preventive health measure protecting infant health and aligning with medical best practices.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 257: 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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates pharmacies to provide patient education on opioid risks, safe use, and resources, directly improving patient safety and access to harm reduction information within healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

Track

failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 193: Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments

HB 193 prohibits Utah government entities from using public funds to pay for certain surgical procedures related to transitioning from one's biological sex (defined as primary or secondary sex characteristic procedures). It requires government insurance plans that previously covered such transition procedures before May 6, 2026, to offer equivalent coverage for procedures to reverse those changes ("detransitioning"), to the extent possible. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and does not appropriate new funds or affect private insurance. It directly impacts state and local government agencies, school districts, and other public entities using public money for health coverage.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits public funding for gender transition surgeries, restricting healthcare coverage for transgender patients while mandating detransitioning coverage as a secondary requirement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

Track