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House debate centers on bill to bar coercive "holding" and restraint practices for licensed therapists
Summary
Lawmakers debated First Substitute House Bill 5 to prohibit coercive restraint practices (often called "holding therapy") for licensed mental-health therapists. Sponsors cited medical endorsements and cases of harm; opponents warned the language could remove a last-resort option for some families. The House opened a vote on the substitute but the final roll call is not recorded in this transcript.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House spent the better part of the morning and early afternoon debating First Substitute House Bill 5, a measure to prohibit coercive restraint practices by licensed mental-health therapists, commonly described in the record as "holding therapy." Proponents said the bill is necessary to stop abusive techniques and protect children; opponents warned the language could close off treatments some families consider a last resort.
Sponsor Representative Mike Thompson urged passage, citing professional endorsements and safety concerns. "This bill will stop forms of child abuse and will ensure that Utah does not become the first state in the nation to legalize child abuse under the guise of therapy," Thompson said on the House floor. He listed organizations that had voiced opposition to coercive methods and cited…
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