All Roll Calls
Yes: 182 • No: 15
UtahS.B. 312026 General SessionSenateWALLET
Office of Professional Licensure Review Amendments
Sponsored By: Evan J. Vickers (Republican)
Signed by Governor
BusinessHealth and Human ServicesLabor and EmploymentHealth Care ProfessionalsAcupuncturistsAthletic TrainersHearing Instrument SpecialistsNursesOccupational TherapistsPhysical TherapistsPhysician AssistantsRespiratory Care ProvidersSpeech-Language Pathologists and AudiologistsOccupational and Professional Licensing
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
15 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 9 mixed.
More conditions qualify for medical cannabis
Beginning May 6, 2026, more illnesses qualify for medical cannabis. Examples include HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, ALS, cancer, epilepsy, autism, PTSD with therapist monitoring, and hospice or terminal illness. Chronic pain lasting longer than two weeks can qualify if non‑opioid care did not help. Some rare diseases and other cases may be approved by the Compassionate Use Board. Your medical provider must document required findings and, for PTSD, mental‑health care must be in place.
Fairer licensing reviews after convictions
Beginning May 6, 2026, if the division may deny or not renew your license only because of a conviction, it must review your case individually. It must decide if the offense relates to safe and competent practice and weigh factors like age at the offense, time since, sentence completion, rehab and treatment, recommendations, education, and work history.
Tighter rules for transgender care for minors
Starting July 1, 2023, a provider may give hormonal transgender treatment to a minor only after at least six months of care for gender dysphoria, full risk disclosures, and written consent from the minor and a parent or guardian (unless emancipated). A separate mental‑health evaluation is required and must document a DSM‑5 determination and at least three therapy sessions. Beginning January 1, 2024, both the medical provider and the mental‑health evaluator must hold the transgender treatment certification, and the evaluator cannot be the recommending provider. Providing care without the certification (from January 1, 2024) or skipping required steps is unprofessional conduct subject to discipline.
New physical therapy scope and limits
Beginning May 6, 2026, trained physical therapists may use dry needling, order imaging under state rules, and give certain prescription topical medicines with a prescriber’s order. In institutions without a respiratory therapist within 10 miles, they may give aerosol meds for pulmonary hygiene with a prescription. Physical therapists must perform evaluations, periodic reevaluations, and accurate documentation. Physical therapist assistants and aides cannot do evaluations, design care plans, or do high‑velocity thrust joint mobilizations; aides are limited to simple joint distraction, stretching, and home‑program moves.
New respiratory care licenses and apprentices
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah issues two licenses: respiratory care practitioner and respiratory care apprentice. To be licensed you apply on the division form, pay a state‑set fee, complete approved education, and pass the exam. Apprentices must be in the final year of an approved program, have written program permission, and work under indirect supervision. Limited practice is for non‑critical care patients and excludes mechanical ventilation, arterial lines, and other high‑risk procedures set by rule. Apprentice licenses expire when you get or are denied the practitioner license, or when enrollment ends, with a 60‑day window after graduation. Practitioner licenses renew every two years; endorsement follows the state’s general endorsement rules.
Stronger safety rules for outpatient anesthesia
Beginning May 6, 2026, if you get moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia outside an ER, the provider must meet safety rules. You must get written and verbal disclosures and give written and verbal consent. Providers must have PALS for minors and ACLS or perioperative resuscitation for adults, monitor you continuously (including capnography), keep an ACLS crash cart with reversal meds, and have advanced airway staff present. A ketamine exception allows the airway‑trained person to be on‑site (not in‑room) when ketamine is used for a non‑anesthetic purpose. Providers must document required details in your record.
New nursing pathways, checks, and funding
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah issues a Registered Nurse Apprentice license. It ends at the earliest of one year after issue, 75 days after failing or not taking the exam as reported, or upon RN licensure; the division may extend it. Most nursing applicants must complete a criminal background check and disclose history; medication aide certified applicants are excepted. The law treats a certification as a license until renewal or May 6, 2028. Medication aide certified applicants must be current CNAs, have a high school diploma or equivalent, 2,000 recent CNA hours in a designated facility, complete at least 60 classroom and 40 practical hours, and pass exams; under RN supervision, they may give routine meds per a formulary and protocol. A Nurse Education and Enforcement Account funds nurse training and enforcement using administrative penalties and interest when appropriated.
New rules for APRN and CRNA prescribing
Beginning May 6, 2026, licensed APRNs may prescribe and give prescription drugs, including Schedule II–V, within their legal scope. CRNAs face tight limits: only up to a five‑day supply tied to a procedure, with an established patient record, and not ketamine before the procedure. The law defines APRNs as independent practitioners acting within scope. APRNs licensed on July 1, 1998 who lack required coursework receive a non‑prescriptive APRN license and may not prescribe.
Clearer end-of-life orders and roles
Beginning May 6, 2026, the state clarifies what counts as life‑sustaining care and what is comfort care. It standardizes the Order for Life‑Sustaining Treatment form that tells health providers, facilities, and EMS your wishes. For these rules, EMS providers are not treated as health care providers under the definition used. For death investigations, licensed doctors, PAs, and certain APRNs are recognized as health care professionals.
New ID and title rules for PAs
Beginning May 6, 2026, physician assistants must wear an ID badge that shows their PA license class. They must tell each patient they are a physician assistant. They may not use any other job title while doing PA work.
Limits on independent practice for PAs
Beginning May 6, 2026, a physician assistant practicing independently may only provide services that are appropriate outside a health care facility and that the PA is trained and credentialed to do without a supervising physician.
More acupuncture injections, with guardrails
Beginning May 6, 2026, licensed acupuncturists may use injection therapy with certain sterile substances, like saline, dextrose, local anesthetic, and others set by rule. They may use ultrasound to guide subcutaneous or intramuscular shots. Injections into veins, joints, arteries, blood vessels, nerves, deep organs, or the spine are not allowed. Autologous blood is allowed only if the practitioner holds a current phlebotomy certification. Trained licensees may buy and give these prescriptive substances in the office only, from a registered outlet, manufacturer, or wholesaler. Supportive services for acupuncture aides do not include diagnosis, point location, needle insertion, electrical stimulation, or patient advice. Title rules apply: only “licensed acupuncturist” or “L.Ac.” (and certain doctoral titles that match the degree). Doctors or chiropractors doing acupuncture must say they are a doctor practicing acupuncture and cannot call themselves a licensed acupuncturist.
Acupuncture aides and certification changes
Beginning May 6, 2026, licensed acupuncturists may delegate defined supportive tasks to an acupuncture aide under indirect supervision while physically present. Aides must have clean needle technique training or meet division rules. Acupuncturist licensure requires an application, a state‑set fee, current national certification, passing the exam, and informed‑consent procedures. Certified providers may perform the NADA ear detox protocol after showing proof of NADA certification; the division may allow similar protocols by rule.
Division must write implementing rules
Beginning May 6, 2026, the licensing division must adopt administrative rules to carry out Section 58‑31d‑101 under Utah’s rulemaking law. This is a procedural step to implement the statute.
Respiratory care licensing board created
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah creates a five‑member Respiratory Care Licensing Board. It includes one physician, three respiratory care practitioners with at least three years of recent practice, and one public member. The executive director appoints members, who serve under state board rules.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Evan J. Vickers
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Jason B. Kyle
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 59 • No: 5
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 22 • No: 1
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 6
House vote • 3/3/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 15 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 25 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/6/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 2/6/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/17/2026Senate/ to Governor
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/12/2026SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/12/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/10/2026Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
3/10/2026Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/10/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ floor amendment
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ amended
3/3/2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
3/3/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Amended 3/6/2026 16:03:220
3/6/2026
Amended 3/3/2026 19:03:217
3/3/2026
Amended 2/25/2026 16:02:990
2/25/2026
Substitute #4
2/25/2026
Substitute #3
2/23/2026
Substitute #2
2/18/2026
Substitute #1
2/5/2026
Introduced
12/18/2025
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