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

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Public Health

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 199: Health Data Amendments

HB 199 amends Utah's health data laws to clarify how the Department of Health and Human Services manages health information. It defines key terms, allows the department to share data with public health, mental health, and substance use authorities for public health purposes, and adds new data security requirements. The bill removes certain reporting obligations for health data providers and updates rules around the All Payer Claims Database. These changes primarily affect health care facilities, providers, insurers, and government agencies handling health data within Utah. The law makes technical updates to existing statutes without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables data sharing with public health/mental health authorities for public health purposes and adds security requirements, facilitating healthcare coordination and data management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 359: Health Care Preceptor Amendments

HB 359 creates the Preceptor Fund to support clinical training for health care students in Utah. It allows health care providers (physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses) who supervise students in clinical settings to receive payments for providing at least 160 hours of training per student. The fund is financed solely through private donations, including mandatory donations during health care provider license applications. Providers can combine hours across multiple students to meet the 160-hour requirement, and the Department of Health and Human Services will establish rules for fund distribution. The bill takes effect in 2026 and requires no state appropriations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Preceptor Fund to financially support clinical training for healthcare students, strengthening workforce development through mandatory provider donations.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 100: 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.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits ECT for minors, restricting a mental health treatment option and limiting patient access to a specific procedure within healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 15: Medicaid Amendments

HB 15 amends Utah's Medicaid expansion program to address potential reductions in federal funding. It changes the automatic end date for the expansion if federal matching funds decrease, requires the Department of Health and Human Services to terminate programs that would reduce federal funds, and mandates a report to the legislature if funding drops. The bill also allows the state tax funding Medicaid expansion to end if the program concludes. These changes directly affect Utah's Medicaid beneficiaries and the state's administration of the program, focusing on maintaining federal funding alignment without new state spending.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill safeguards Medicaid expansion against federal funding cuts by requiring state action to maintain coverage and prevent program termination, directly protecting healthcare access for beneficiaries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 71: Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments

HB 71 requires health insurance companies (covered insurers) to help enrollees access behavioral health services (like mental health and substance use treatment) in a timely manner when in-network providers aren't available. Insurers must publish and regularly update accurate provider directories, facilitate out-of-network care within 7 days (or 24 hours for emergencies), and follow specific rules for single case agreements to cover out-of-network services. The bill also extends these requirements to Utah's Medicaid program and directs the state to create a working group to study a statewide behavioral health provider directory. These changes apply to all insurers offering behavioral health coverage, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurers to ensure timely access to behavioral health services, update provider directories, and facilitate out-of-network care, directly improving patient access to mental health coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

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

Sub-Topics Corrections Substance Abuse Women's Health

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 50: Anesthesia Dosage Amendments

SB 50 requires health insurance plans in Utah to cover medically necessary anesthesia services regardless of procedure duration, directly affecting patients needing anesthesia and insurers offering health coverage. It prohibits insurers from denying payment for anesthesia solely based on exceeding preset time limits, ensuring coverage isn't withheld for extended care. The law applies to health benefit plans renewed or entered after January 1, 2027, and is codified under Utah Code Section 31A-22-663. This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new state funding required.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for medically necessary anesthesia regardless of duration, preventing denial based on time limits and expanding patient access to essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 88: Public Assistance Amendments

HB 88 requires Utah agencies to verify an applicant's lawful presence in the U.S. before providing state or local public benefits, using the federal SAVE program. It prohibits benefits for individuals unlawfully present in the U.S., with exceptions for emergency medical care, disaster relief, and certain health services. The bill also updates eligibility rules for Utah's Children's Health Insurance Program. This policy directly affects individuals applying for public benefits like food assistance or housing programs.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts health coverage for unlawfully present individuals (except emergencies), updates CHIP eligibility to exclude non-lawful residents, limiting healthcare access for a population segment.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts public benefits access for undocumented immigrants by requiring lawful presence verification, aligning with immigration enforcement policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance

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