HB 14 extends the expiration date for Utah's Behavior Analyst Licensing Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. This change ensures the law governing behavior analyst licensure remains in effect for an additional decade, preventing its automatic repeal. The bill includes minor technical adjustments to the relevant code but does not alter licensing requirements for behavior analysts. This extension directly affects behavior analysts and the state's regulatory process for their professional licensing.
HB 202 amends Utah's Acupuncture Licensing Act to create a new pathway for becoming a licensed acupuncturist. It allows applicants to either provide current NCCAOM certification or complete a specific 2-year curriculum meeting detailed hour requirements (including 450 hours of theory, 500 clinical hours, and 225 biomedical hours). The bill directly affects individuals seeking acupuncture licensure in Utah by offering an alternative to the existing exam-based process. These changes take effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.
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.
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.
HB 414 amends Utah's definition of "public health setting" to explicitly include hospitals. This change allows dental hygienists working in hospitals to practice without requiring general supervision from a dentist (meaning a dentist doesn't need to be physically present on-site). The bill directly affects dental hygienists employed in hospital settings by expanding their scope of practice within those facilities. It does not appropriate funds or change other licensing requirements, focusing solely on clarifying where hygienists can work independently. The amendment takes effect May 6, 2026.
SB 31 amends Utah's professional licensure laws for health care providers, directly affecting physical therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists, nurse practitioners, and medication aides. It expands practice authority - allowing physical therapists to prescribe medical equipment and order certain imaging, and letting occupational therapists prescribe adaptive devices - and changes licensing requirements, such as replacing certification with a license for medication aides. The bill also increases registered nursing experience needed for nurse practitioner licensure, adjusts supervision rules for therapists, and clarifies prescriptive powers for acupuncturists. These changes aim to modernize scope-of-practice standards while maintaining safety protocols.
