House advances bill clarifying chiropractic physicians' authority on acupuncture after heated debate

The Utah House approved Senate Bill 249 as amended, a measure redefining the practice boundaries between chiropractic physicians and licensed acupuncturists. The vote on the amended bill was 47–24; the bill will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.

Representative Del Rey (floor representative for the bill) explained that SB249 removes an exemption in the acupuncture licensing act and makes explicit in statute that chiropractic physicians may perform acupuncture under the scope of their practice, subject to any required additional training. "It's my understanding that in order to have that little broader scope, they would be required to have that additional 200 hours," Del Rey said during floor questions.

Several members urged sending the bill to interim study, citing safety concerns and the lack of a clear statutory boundary for what chiropractors with 200 hours of additional training may perform. Representative Yer argued that a thorough interim study would be appropriate because existing administrative rules and a pending related bill (SB22) create confusion about whether the 200‑hour requirement would remain. Others, including committee chairs and several members with experience in the rulemaking process, urged circling the bill to fix drafting issues before final action and noted that the chiropractic-acupuncture practice has existed in the state since the 1970s.

After debate the House declined to lift and refer SB249 to Rules for interim study and instead circled and then returned the bill to the calendar; the final vote on the amended bill was recorded as 47 yes and 24 no. Floor discussion left open questions about the interaction between SB249 and a separate bill (SB22) that affects administrative rules and training requirements; proponents said they will continue to refine statutory language if the Senate and conference process require it.