House approves amended medical‑recommendation bill for children, sends it to Senate (48–24)

The Utah House passed First Substitute House Bill 299 as amended, a bill the sponsor described as "a culmination of 2 years of work" to coordinate language across related measures and clarify the role of parents in medical recommendations for children. The bill passed the House with 48 yes votes and 24 no votes and will be referred to the Senate for further action.

Representative Morley, the bill sponsor, said the amendment reconciled terminology across several bills and replaced references to "minor" with "child," and substituted the phrase "substantial harm" where appropriate. During floor debate Representative Litvak offered an amendment to expressly encourage communication between parents and school personnel about a child's physical and mental health; after a substitute motion removed the more prescriptive language the House adopted the substitute and concluded debate.

Members asked about classroom management, referral procedures and the role of school counselors if a child's behavior disrupts instruction. The sponsor said the bill permits teachers to communicate concerns to parents, to refer students to appropriate school personnel and to act consistent with local school‑board or charter policies. The House adopted the committee recommendation, agreed to the floor substitution and approved the bill as amended.

The House vote sends the measure to the Senate; no Senate action was recorded in the House transcript. The bill will proceed through the Senate committee and floor process before any enactment.