Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost

Maddy summarySB 101 removes a $50 fee for issuing or renewing a specific retail license, making it free for businesses. It requires the commission to establish additional information retailers must provide when applying for this license. The bill clarifies this license is separate from other permits required under Section 4-41-103.3. It directly affects retailers seeking this specialized license, with no fee cost and updated application requirements.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 385 creates a new licensing system for businesses primarily selling nicotine products (like e-cigarettes and vaping products), defined as those where such sales make up over 35% of total revenue. These "retail tobacco specialty businesses" must obtain a $10,000 annual license from the Utah Department of Agriculture, provide a detailed product list including ingredients, and disclose ownership information. The bill prohibits licensing for businesses with owners convicted of certain crimes, bans advertising nicotine products in specific locations, and criminalizes negligent sales of these products to minors. This directly affects vape shops and similar retailers meeting the sales threshold, imposing new registration, reporting, and licensing requirements.

Maddy summarySB 314 requires Utah's Division of Population Health to create public education materials and outreach programs about sleep disorders, directly affecting Utah residents, healthcare providers, and schools. The bill mandates coverage of specific conditions like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and circadian disorders, with goals to increase awareness, promote early diagnosis, reduce stigma, and address safety risks like drowsy driving. The division may partner with health organizations, insurers, school districts, and transportation agencies to distribute materials. No new funding is allocated, and the law takes effect in May 2026. This focuses on public health education, not treatment or regulation.

Maddy summaryHB 590 ensures children transitioning out of foster care in Utah can continue seeing their existing mental health therapist without losing coverage. It requires insurers to offer special agreements for these children (called "covered children") to access out-of-network therapists who provided care while they were in foster care, with the same cost-sharing as in-network providers. The Division of Child and Family Services must also coordinate with therapists when children enter or leave foster care to maintain treatment continuity. This applies specifically to children receiving outpatient mental health services, excluding those in residential or higher-level care facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 390 authorizes Utah's Huntsman Mental Health Institute to conduct a clinical study on the safety and feasibility of psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD (veterans whose PTSD hasn't improved with standard treatments). The bill permits Huntsman to accept donations and grants to fund the study, requiring combined legislative appropriations and donations to reach a sufficient threshold by January 1, 2027, to begin the research. Huntsman must report findings to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and will return unused donations by July 1, 2032. The study must comply with federal and state regulations, including FDA oversight and safety protocols for administering psychedelic drugs like MDMA or psilocybin in controlled settings. The bill makes no direct funding appropriation and focuses solely on enabling this specific research initiative.

Maddy summaryHB 451 creates a small farm assistance program using Utah’s Agriculture Resource Development Fund to provide loans and grants to small farmers owning or leasing active farms under 20 acres. The program covers down payments for land acquisition, equipment purchases, and operational costs related to developing or maintaining agricultural land. It appropriates $20 million for fiscal year 2026, requires the Department of Agriculture to report program progress to a legislative committee, and updates existing fund rules to prioritize small farm support. This directly affects small-scale agricultural producers seeking financial assistance for land expansion or operational needs.

Maddy summaryHB 578 requires local mental health authorities, the state protection agency, and specific health departments to provide information and referrals about guardianship and conservatorship resources to individuals who contact them. It also allows the Office of Public Guardian to offer training on these matters and updates advance mental health directives to include a person’s preferred guardian. The bill makes technical changes to definitions and related statutes without appropriating new funds, aiming to improve access to support for individuals managing personal affairs or decision-making capacity.

Maddy summaryHB 469 amends Utah's hemp product regulations to clarify definitions, strengthen safety rules, and update business requirements. It requires hemp retailers to verify purchasers are 21+ via ID checks, updates disposal rules for hemp-related hazardous waste, and repeals mandatory video surveillance for retailers. The bill also explicitly bans specific synthetic cannabinoids (like THCP, HHC, and THC acetates) and sets strict THC limits (under 0.3% dry weight, with additional per-serving limits). These changes directly affect hemp retailers, processors, and consumers purchasing hemp-derived products in Utah.