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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah creates state controlled substance license for emergency medical services agencies
Last action · March 18, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Ryan Wilcox and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Utah enacts a new state-level controlled substance license for emergency medical services agencies, allowing paramedics and emergency personnel to distribute, dispense, and administer controlled substances under specific medical direction. The law authorizes the Division of Professional Licensing to set storage and record-keeping rules, charge licensing fees, and penalize violations with fines up to $5,000, effective May 6, 2026.
Emergency medical services agencies operating in Utah must obtain a state controlled substance license for each registered location, establishing formal state oversight over how ambulance crews and responders handle and administer prescription drugs in the field.
- Emergency medical services agencies in Utah handle controlled substances such as painkillers and sedatives in emergency vehicles, requiring coordination between state licensing boards and federal drug enforcement regulations. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Emergency medical services agencies
Agencies must obtain a state controlled substance license for each registered location, maintain strict inventory records, and adhere to new division storage rules.
Emergency medical service personnel
Responders are authorized to dispense, distribute, or administer controlled substances in the field based on standing or verbal orders from a medical director.
Division of Professional Licensing
The division is tasked with creating rules, issuing licenses on a two-year cycle, assessing fees, conducting disciplinary proceedings, and collecting penalties.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is allowed to administer controlled substances under this new license?
Does every single ambulance station or stationhouse need its own separate federal DEA registration?
What penalties can be imposed for violating record-keeping or distribution rules?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
38 actions- Mar 18, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 11, 2026HouseHouse/ to Governor
- Mar 11, 2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 7, 2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 7, 2026Clerk of the HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 32 earlier actions
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from House for Enrolling
- Mar 4, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 4, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
- Mar 4, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
- Mar 2, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 26, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 25, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 24, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 24, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 24, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 17, 2026House Rules CommitteeBill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm
- Feb 11, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0402S01
- Feb 5, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0402S01
- Feb 3, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0402S01
- Feb 3, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0402S01
- Feb 2, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0402
- Jan 28, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 28, 2026HouseHouse/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 27, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0402
- Jan 27, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0402
- Jan 27, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 27, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselBill Numbered but not Distributed
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Dedicated State EMS Controlled Substance Licensing
The state shifts to creating a distinct state-level controlled substance license tailored specifically to emergency medical services agencies.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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