HB 599 amends Utah's social services funding to redirect interest earned from the Medicaid ACA Fund into the General Fund, freeing up $759,700 annually for 2026-2027. It adds immunosuppressive drugs to Medicaid's preferred drug list and transitions the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) into Medicaid, with dental services for CHIP beneficiaries to be provided through the University of Utah School of Dentistry. The bill also allocates funds from electronic cigarette taxes to support substance use treatment and prevention services. These changes directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries, CHIP enrollees (now covered under Medicaid), and individuals seeking substance use treatment.
HB 389 amends Utah's medical cannabis laws to simplify licensing for processors, allowing them to make cannabinoid (hemp) products without an extra license. It creates a new fee on medical cannabis purchases for enforcement, moves oversight of the medical cannabis program to the Department of Agriculture and Food, and allows low-THC products (under 0.3% THC) to be sold by pharmacies. The bill also enables patients to get medical cannabis cards via virtual doctor visits and renames the licensing board to the Specialized Product Authority Licensing Board. These changes directly affect medical cannabis processors, pharmacies, patients, and state agencies managing the program.
SB 98 creates a voluntary certification program for employers to become "recovery ready workplaces," administered by Utah's Department of Health and Human Services. Employers seeking certification must implement specific practices, including preventing workplace factors that contribute to substance use disorders, reducing stigma, providing employee education, making naloxone (an opiate antagonist) available, and supporting employees accessing treatment. The bill authorizes the department to establish application criteria and an application process, with potential funding from the Electronic Cigarette Substance and Nicotine Product Proceeds Restricted Account. This program directly affects employers who choose to participate, aiming to improve workplace support for employees with substance use disorders.
This bill directs Utah's Public Employees' Benefit Insurance Program (PEHP) to create a new "Weight Management and Obesity Pilot Program" starting in 2026. It combines PEHP's existing bariatric surgery pilot with an alternative option for covered state employees to receive GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) instead of surgery, while staying within the existing $1.05 million annual budget. Key provisions include requiring 50% member cost-sharing, capping monthly pharmacy expenses at $300, limiting coverage to 24 months, and applying the same health coaching requirements to both options. The program allows eligible members (with BMI over 40 or 35+ with health conditions) to choose once between surgery or GLP-1 treatment, with annual reports to lawmakers.
SB 150 creates a formal process for reviewing whether healthcare practitioners (like nurses or therapists) should be allowed to use new technologies in their practice. It requires Utah's Office of Professional Licensure Review to conduct these "scope of practice reviews" when requested by legislators, healthcare employers, or professional groups. The office must convene advisory groups including affected practitioners, assess if the technology improves care access, outcomes, or costs, and then submit a report to the Business and Labor Committee. The bill does not change current practice standards but establishes a structured method for evaluating potential expansions to healthcare occupations' scope.
This bill directs Utah's state health plan (PEHP) to make specific changes to its drug coverage starting in 2027. It requires PEHP to include at least one non-opioid pain medication alternative for every opioid drug in its formulary (drug list), and prohibits using cost-sharing, prior authorization, or other extra steps to discourage patients from choosing these alternatives. The resolution aims to address coverage gaps that may lead patients toward opioids instead of safer options. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a law, and applies directly to PEHP's coverage policies.)
HB 339 requires the University of Utah Health to study whether a street medicine program could operate in Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah counties by 2027. It directs Utah's Department of Health to develop guidelines for street medicine providers by July 2026, covering Medicaid coverage and community resources. The bill defines "street medicine" as healthcare provided outside clinics to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, such as those sleeping in vehicles, parks, or encampments. These guidelines and the feasibility study aim to create a framework for this type of care, with no new funding allocated.
HB 270 voids non-compete agreements between employers and licensed healthcare workers in Utah, effective May 6, 2026. It specifically targets agreements that restrict healthcare workers - such as nurses, doctors, therapists, and counselors - from practicing in certain areas or for specific time periods after leaving a job. The bill also makes void certain nonsolicitation agreements between employers and healthcare workers under defined circumstances. This applies to all 35+ licensed healthcare professions listed in the bill, including advanced practice nurses, psychologists, and physical therapists, without creating new financial obligations.
SB 161 amends Utah's guardianship laws to clarify rights for individuals alleged to be incapacitated and update procedures for court-appointed health care assessments. The bill ensures that Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rights are preserved and sets new standards for health care providers conducting assessments, including requiring their reports to be filed with the court. It also prohibits health care providers from interviewing the person seeking guardianship or including their opinions in assessment reports. These changes apply to guardianships granted on or after May 7, 2025.
SB 127 requires all Utah hospital emergency departments to implement specific pediatric care standards. It mandates policies for pediatric triage, dosing, equipment use, and annual staff training with clinical simulations. Each ER must appoint a pediatric care coordinator (a licensed physician, PA, or nurse) and conduct annual readiness assessments using the National Pediatric Readiness Project framework, reporting results to the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. The bureau will collect data and establish minimum safety rules for pediatric care in ERs, with $278,000 reallocated from existing state funds for implementation. The bill directly affects all general acute hospital emergency departments across Utah.
