Overview
HB28 extends the repeal dates for programs and committees under the Dept. of Health and Human Services. Included in those programs is the Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) that was scheduled to sunset in June 2026. BioUtah is the administrator of the RDAC. It is in its fifth year of operation. BioUtah fully supports this reauthorization and has requested the funding for the work BioUtah does as administrator be increased from $9500 to $19500.
Status
The bill was approved by a 73-1-1 vote on the floor of the House on January 20. It was presented in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on February 3 and amended to include an additional $19K in funding. The Committee recommended it for passage on a 4-0-3 vote and subsequently passed unanimously by the Senate on February 5. The bill now returns to the House for concurrence on the amendment added to increase the funding. BioUtah Position
Support
Overview
This bill increases the property tax exemption for primary residential properties from 45% to 60%. The motivation for this bill is that residential property values have increased more rapidly than commercial property values resulting in residential properties shouldering more of the burden of property taxes. By increasing the exemption tax burden effectively shifts more to commercial and second home properties. This means unavoidably higher costs for businesses. BioUtah opposed this as a permanent fix addressing a temporary situation that over time will correct itself. That property tax increase would result in permanent cost increases to our members.
Status
On January 30 the bill was assigned to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. Presently, the sponsor has announced her intention to abandon the bill.BioUtah Position
Oppose
Overview
This bill addresses the use of genetic sequencing tools and the storage of genetic information. Based on the concern that genetic sequencers manufactured in a country designated a foreign adversary contain the ability to collect and transfer private DNA data to that foreign adversary for use in creating a possible biological weapon, this bill outlaws the use of sequencers made in China or other foreign adversaries and the storage of DNA data within the geographic boundaries of those adversaries. This bill was initiated at the end of the 2025 legislative session, but time ran out before the bill was prioritized. BioUtah has worked closely with the sponsor to eliminate language deemed detrimental to our members. BIO, one of our national affiliates, has assisted with replacement language. The elements BioUtah has negotiated are:
- The bill does not become effective until January 1, 2028 allowing any users of offending devices or those storing DNA date in violation of the terms to come into compliance.
- The bill originally required any entity using a DNA sequencer to certify annually they were in compliance with the provisions of this law. That feature was replaced with a single filing requirement when the bill goes effective in 2 years plus a reaffirmation filing every 10 years thereafter.
- The manufacturing of components for DNA sequencers is not affected. The law only applies to products finished in a country deemed a foreign adversary.
- Compliance can be achieved by either disposing of the device or disabling any ability to transmit data collected electronically.
- Clinical trial data or data submitted to a regulatory body part of a foreign adversary is exempted from the data storage requirements
Status
The bill received a favorable recommendation from the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee on a 8-0-2 vote on January 22, 2026, and was approved unanimously by the entire House of Representatives on January 29. Substitute 4 of the bill containing most of our requested amendments was then presented on February 3 in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and approved on a vote of 4-0-3. Substitute 5 extending the effective date to January 1, 2028, was presented to the full Senate where it was approved on a voice vote. The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for concurrence on Substitute 5 as approved by the Senate.
BioUtah Position
Neutral
Overview
This bill simply makes clarifications to the 340B legislation passed last year. It does not introduce any new provisions. Our understanding is this bill was initiated at the request of the Utah Attorney General who is defending the state against lawsuits from the pharmaceutical industry over last year’s 340B legislation. Apparently, by making the changes in this bill it will make it easier for the state to mount their defense in the lawsuits that have been filed. BioUtah is neutral on the bill since it does not introduce new policy.
Status
The bill was heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee on January 30 and favorably recommended to the full House on a vote of 11-0. On February 4 the full house unanimously approved the bill. The bill now goes to the Senate for a committee hearing. BioUtah Position
Neutral
Overview
The current state of Right to Try in Utah is limited to certain terminally ill patients. This bill would expand options for Right to Try to include other conditions by removing the requirement that a patient have a terminal illness to access an investigational drug and amends the definition regarding the forms a medicine may take. BioUtah supports the legislation. The Utah Medical Association has expressed concerns that this bill unfairly raises hopes for patients and may expose them to unnecessary risk. They oppose the bill.
Status
The bill was numbered and introduced on January 29, 2026 and heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on February 3 where it was advanced to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation on a 3-1-3 vote. The bill will next be voted on by the full Senate. BioUtah Position
Support
Overview
It is the intent of House leadership to propose reducing the income tax for individuals and corporations from 4.5% to 4.45%. To fund that income tax cut, the legislature proposes to require research and development costs be amortized over 5 years for tax purposes which is estimated to generate over $100M in tax revenue for the state from companies doing research and development.
The concept of amortizing R&D expenses was first introduced in federal legislation as a “pay for” for tax cuts in 2017. The policy to amortize over 5 years did not go into effect until approximately 2022. Industries involved in doing research and development, including the life sciences industry, fought to reverse this policy. In the Big Beautiful Bill passed in 2025 the tax policy was changed back to allow companies to expense research and development costs in the period incurred.
The change at the state level would have the following effect:
- It would mean higher state level taxes on profitable companies doing research and development.
- It will discourage companies from doing R&D in Utah due to the unfavorable tax treatment.
- It will label Utah as unfriendly toward companies doing R&D as Utah may be the only state with such a tax policy.
- Universities doing R&D could be impacted by the fact companies may be less inclined to contract for R&D in Utah
- Economic development will be impacted as life sciences companies who are typically very involved in R&D view Utah less favorably as a relocation destination due to the unfavorable treatment of R&D expenses.
- Small pre-revenue companies may also be impacted if they receive taxable grants from research partners. That taxable grant could generate a taxable event if the associated offsetting R&D costs are postponed over five years.
- Life Sciences is a target industry in Utah. This policy seems inconsistent with favoring industries that do R&D.
- R&D is the fuel that drives the innovation engine. Innovation is what drives jobs and economic prosperity. This bill is equivalent to putting sand in the gas tank.
Status
No bill has been introduced as yet. It is anticipated in the next week. BioUtah Position
Oppose
Overview
Makes provisions for cutting State Medicaid budgets in the event the Federal Government cuts funding to the state. The bill has yet to be assigned to committee.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
Allows a pharmacist to dispense Ivermectin without a doctor’s prescription. The bill was assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee on January 27, but has not yet been heard in committee.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
Prohibits providing electroconvulsive therapy to minors. The bill was assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee on January 26, but has not yet been heard in committee.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
Eliminates the current requirement that parents opting out of school mandated vaccines take an educational course about the benefits of vaccines as part of the opt out process. The bill was initially amended to eliminate the ability of educational institutions to require vaccines for students. Then it was amended back to the original intent of removing the educational requirement. The bill was heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee on January 30. It failed on a 6-6-2 vote.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
This is an amendment to a bill last year that allowed a pharmacist to substitute medication upon approval from the doctor as noted on the prescription. This bill amends that process to eliminate the requirement that the pharmacist report back to the doctor that a substitution occurred. It was approved on January 27 in the House Health and Human Services Committee on a 12-0-2 vote. The bill goes next to the floor of the House.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
This bill makes non-compete agreements for medical practitioners unenforceable. The bill was approved by the House Health and Human Services Committee on February 4 on a 11-0-3 vote. It is now on the floor of the House for consideration.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
This bill proposes to lower the threshold for companies to comply with requirements to verify employee eligibility for employment from 150 to 50 employees. The bill was assigned to the House Business, Labor and Commerce Committee on February 3.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
This bill dictates how the State will use almost $200 million in Funding for rural hospital and healthcare. House Rules Committee approved the bill on a 5-0-3 vote on January 28 and the bill is now on the floor of the house.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
This bill requires that providers of stem cells ascertain that the medical practitioners will comply with the law that they notify their patients according to the law. Approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on a 3-0-4 vote on January 26. It is now being considered by the full Senate.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
Allows prescriptions to remain valid for 2 years instead of 1. Bill has been assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
Provides for lowering income tax levels from 4.55% to 4.5%. Bill has been approved by the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on a 3-2-2 vote on January 28 and is pending action by the full Senate.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring
Overview
This bill establishes a statewide youth apprenticeship governance council and authorizes participation in the federal Workforce Pell Grant program. Approved on a 5-0-1 vote by the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee on January 28 and is now pending action by the full Senate.
Status
BioUtah Position
Monitoring