All Roll Calls
Yes: 135 • No: 0
UtahH.B. 4342025 General SessionHouseWALLET
Health and Human Services Amendments
Sponsored By: Cheryl K. Acton (Republican)
Signed by Governor
CountiesPublic Funds and AccountsBusinessEducationStudent Health and SafetyHealth and Human ServicesHealth CareMedical RecordsPolitical Subdivisions (Local Issues)Government Operations (State Issues)Department of Health and Human ServicesLocal Health DepartmentsServices for People with DisabilitiesOccupational and Professional Licensing
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Substance Use Help for Expecting Parents
Utah requires a program addressing substance use during pregnancy and by parents of newborns. The behavioral health division works with child and family services to manage it. The program provides education and trains providers to screen pregnant adults and minors for substance use disorders. Pregnant people and parents of newborns who need treatment receive referrals to facilities able to provide it.
Firearm Safe Rebates and Free Safety Materials
Utah residents can get a $10–$200 rebate toward a firearm safe. Purchases must come from a participating firearms dealer or a business selling firearm safes in Utah. Within funds lawmakers provide, the behavioral health division must run a firearm-safety and suicide-prevention program with criminal identification officials. It must create safety materials and a suicide-prevention course. Listed groups, including school districts and firearm dealers, must make the safety packets available free.
Emergency Asthma Medicine Access at Schools
Qualified adults at Utah primary and secondary schools can give school-stocked albuterol to students without a current asthma plan. Their training must indicate that the student appears to have breathing distress or an asthma emergency. A separate rule allows treatment without a current plan when a nurse is not immediately available and an adult identifies an asthma emergency. Adults giving albuterol under that separate rule must start appropriate medical follow-up as their training directs.
Updated Stillbirth Certificates and Filing Duties
Parents can request an early term stillbirth certificate for a child not born alive at 16 weeks but before 20 weeks. They must file required records with the state registrar; a health care professional's signed statement can confirm delivery. Fetal death filing duties depend on the location, medical attendance, and need for an inquiry. In investigated cases, the medical examiner investigates the cause of death. The examiner or certified pathologist who performed the fetal autopsy must file within five days after the examiner takes charge.
Health Agency Must Use Data Wisely
Utah's Department of Health and Human Services must use available data to plan access to health and wellness resources. This includes education, information, and services. Staff training must include an understanding of affected populations and supporting data. The department must use funding and resources efficiently to promote health and safety. These duties do not set a new funding amount or promise a specific household service.
Licensing Records Support Health Agency Screening
Beginning July 1, 2022, Utah's Department of Health and Human Services can access professional licensing and certification records. Access covers records held by the Division of Professional Licensing and is limited to employee-screening purposes named in law. This does not require people to obtain licenses or change who qualifies for household services.
Public Health Expertise Required in Leadership
At least one Utah health and human services executive or deputy director must have public health knowledge and experience. That leader must hold a qualifying master's degree in public health or public administration from an accredited school or program. One experience path requires five years of full-time professional work, including two years in senior public-health administration. The other requires five years in public-health programs, including three years in senior administration. When the executive director is not a physician, a deputy must be Utah-licensed to practice medicine and have public-health experience.
School Mental Health Gets State Coordination
Utah's behavioral health division must employ a school mental health specialist at the State Board of Education. The specialist connects local education agencies with local mental health authorities. The specialist recommends screenings and intervention assessments backed by evidence and helps communities strengthen mental health resources.
Medicaid Ambulance Payments Follow State Benchmarks
Utah Medicaid must reimburse ambulance providers up to state ambulance rates, subject to federal approval of the funding assessment. The Department of Public Safety adopts those ambulance rates each year. The benchmark applies to fee-for-service rates effective on or after July 1, 2015. The law sets no specific dollar payment.
Narrower Setting Reviews for Intellectual Disabilities
For people with intellectual disabilities in its system, Utah's disability services division evaluates settings only within that system. This limits its duty to identify the most appropriate, least restrictive setting. The law does not state how this changes any person's placement.
Public Guardian Gains Private Record Access
Records holders must give Utah's Office of Public Guardian access to materials reasonably needed for its legal duties. These include assessments, inquiries, searches, and determinations. Covered materials include statements, documents, exhibits, and private, controlled, or protected medical or financial records.
Case Managers Face Possible Certification Rules
Utah's behavioral health division can create certification rules for covered case managers through the state's rulemaking process. Rules can set training, supervision, continuing education, and renewal requirements. They can also define which services case managers are allowed to provide.
State Gains Local Service Oversight Powers
Utah's Department of Health and Human Services can audit public spending by covered local agencies and their funded contractors. It can require information and issue audit-based orders about public funds. Noncompliance with law, policy, or contracts can lead to withheld funds; the department can take steps to keep services running. For committees under the consolidated health and human services law, required agreement on rules no longer blocks final department action. When agreement fails, the department has final authority to adopt, change, or repeal needed rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Cheryl K. Acton
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Keven J. Stratton
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/7/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 28 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 0
House vote • 2/21/2025
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/21/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 69 • No: 0
House vote • 2/13/2025
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 12 • No: 0
House vote • 2/13/2025
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • 2/13/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 12 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/27/2025House/ to Governor
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/14/2025HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/14/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/11/2025Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/11/2025House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/8/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/8/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/27/2025SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
2/27/2025SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/26/2025SenateSenate/ to standing committee
2/25/2025SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/24/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
2/21/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/21/2025HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/21/2025HouseHouse/ substituted
2/21/2025HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/21/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/14/2025
Substitute #2
2/21/2025
Amended 2/14/2025 10:02:628
2/14/2025
Substitute #1
2/13/2025
Introduced
2/6/2025