Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 66: Medical Cannabis Pharmacy License Amendments

This bill creates a Cannabis Production Establishment and Pharmacy Licensing Advisory Board to oversee medical cannabis pharmacy licensing in Utah. The board, composed of eight to nine members with strict conflict-of-interest rules (e.g., no industry ties), reviews license applications and location changes. Key provisions require the board to consider geographic access, patient cost efficiency, and medical cannabis availability when approving pharmacy location shifts. It directly affects medical cannabis pharmacies seeking new locations or operational changes, ensuring decisions align with public health and geographic distribution goals. The bill amends Utah code sections governing licensing procedures but does not appropriate funds or change patient eligibility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates regulatory framework for medical cannabis pharmacies, prioritizing geographic access and patient cost efficiency to improve healthcare access within medical cannabis services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

vetoed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 164: Health Care Patient Reporting to the Division of Professional Licensing

HB 164 requires health care providers to give patients written information about reporting unprofessional or unlawful conduct to Utah's Division of Professional Licensing before patients sign any nondisclosure agreement. It makes such agreements legally unenforceable unless the provider first provides a standardized model notice explaining how to file a complaint. The bill directs the Division to create and publish this notice online, including details on what constitutes misconduct and the reporting process. This affects patients seeking to report provider misconduct and health care providers using nondisclosure clauses, effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires providers to disclose complaint rights before NDAs, strengthening patient protections in healthcare provider interactions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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 No ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 122: Pregnant and Postpartum Inmate Amendments

HB 122 requires Utah correctional facilities to report the number of pregnant inmates and inmates who are parents of minor children. It extends postpartum recovery care to 12 weeks, prohibits restraints during this period without specific security justification, and increases social worker access from six to 12 weeks to help inmates arrange childcare, plan family reunification, and access substance abuse treatment if needed. The bill also clarifies that facilities must provide postpartum medical care for 12 weeks after childbirth. These changes directly affect pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals in Utah state prisons and county jails.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends postpartum care, prohibits unnecessary restraints, and increases social worker access for rehabilitation and family reunification - directly advancing inmate welfare within correctional systems.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends postpartum medical care to 12 weeks and increases social worker access for substance abuse treatment, enhancing healthcare access for incarcerated individuals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HCR 10: Concurrent Resolution Directing PEHP Regarding Hormone Replacement Therapy

This concurrent resolution directs Utah's Public Employees' Benefit and Insurance Program (PEHP) to add hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatments for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms to its drug formulary. It specifically affects state employees covered by PEHP health plans, requiring the program to include these treatments in its approved medications. The resolution does not address "black box" warnings but mandates PEHP to cover HRT for symptom relief. As a procedural directive, it guides an agency's existing policy without creating new law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects PEHP to add HRT to drug formulary, expanding insurance coverage for state employees' menopausal symptom treatment without restrictions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates inclusion of HRT in state employee health plan, expanding covered benefits for perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms under PEHP.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 599: Social Services Funding Amendments

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects Medicaid ACA Fund interest to General Fund, freeing $759k annually for fiscal management and allocates e-cig tax revenue.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds immunosuppressive drugs to Medicaid, transitions CHIP to Medicaid with dental services, and allocates new funds - expands coverage and access without defunding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SCR 5: Concurrent Resolution Directing PEHP Regarding Pain Medication

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.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates non-opioid alternatives in PEHP formulary without barriers, promoting safer pain management and reducing opioid reliance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 83: Controlled Substance Scheduling Amendments

SB 83 amends Utah's controlled substance scheduling laws to automatically align state schedules with federal changes. Specifically, it requires Utah to automatically reschedule pharmaceutical compositions of substances previously classified as Schedule I under federal law if the federal government reschedules them. This affects pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers who handle these substances, as it eliminates the need for separate state legislative action when federal scheduling changes. The bill does not add new substances to schedules or appropriate funds, focusing solely on streamlining the rescheduling process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAutomates federal scheduling alignment, removing barriers for healthcare providers to access rescheduled pharmaceuticals, improving patient access to treatments.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 339: Street Medicine Amendments

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires study/guidelines for street medicine to expand healthcare access for homeless populations, integrating Medicaid coverage and community resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SCR 6: Concurrent Resolution Regarding Pediatric Care for Autonomic Disorders

SCR 6 is a non-binding resolution encouraging Utah's medical community to improve awareness, education, and diagnosis of POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) in children and adolescents, and urging insurers to cover diagnosis and treatment gaps. It highlights that 77% of POTS patients are initially misdiagnosed, Utah ranks 49th in primary care access, and POTS affects an estimated 3 million U.S. patients, often leading to disability. The resolution does not create new laws or appropriate funds but calls for systemic changes to address barriers in pediatric autonomic disorder care. It specifically targets pediatric patients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies without mandating action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEncourages improved diagnosis and insurer coverage for POTS, addressing misdiagnosis and access gaps in pediatric care per resolution language.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare