Utah Senate advances scores of bills on Day 35; close votes on autism diagnosis, congregate care

The Utah Senate met on Day 35 of the 2025 session and passed a large group of bills on consent and third reading, moving measures on topics ranging from tax apportionment for financial institutions to Medicaid doula services and changes to rules for congregate care.

Why it matters: The floor action advances measures to the House for concurrence or further consideration and includes a handful of bills that drew substantive debate and close recorded votes that could affect health care access, congregate care licensing and criminal statutes related to child sexual abuse material.

The most contested items

Senate Bill 2 14 — Health insurance coverage amendments: Sponsor: Senator Kwan. The bill expands who may diagnose autism spectrum disorder for insurance purposes to include certain master’s-level clinicians who meet specified education, training and experience criteria, while clarifying it does not change a licensee’s scope of practice. Sponsor Senator Kwan disputed the fiscal note and said the measure “is not new monies that are going to go for … an additional group of people who are going to be diagnosed. What this does is actually drills down on that wait list.” Senator Fillmore asked to delay until a revised fiscal note could be produced; the sponsor said a prompt revision was uncertain. The Senate passed the measure by roll call, 17 yea, 8 nay, 4 absent. (Recorded roll call on the floor.)

Senate Bill 2 40 — Congregate care modifications: Sponsor: Senator Owens. The bill makes procedural and certification changes for congregate care providers, including timelines for background-check determinations and authority for certain fees and inspections. Sponsor Owens described the measure as an effort to “remove bad actors” and provide clarity for a sector facing closures. Senator Plumb explained his “no” vote, saying he was concerned the bill could limit local authorities and cited constituent problems with some facilities. The Senate passed the second…