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House unanimously passes naloxone‑related cleanup bill to expand protections for overdose responders
Summary
First substitute HB66, clarifying liability language and expanding naloxone access, passed the Utah House 74–0 on Feb. 7, 2017, after sponsors and members recounted multiple saves and framed the bill as a technical but life‑saving update.
The Utah House unanimously passed first substitute House Bill 66 on Feb. 7, 2017, amending the Opiate Overdose Response Act to clarify liability protections and ensure broader coverage for those who administer naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses.
Representative Carol Spackman Moss, the sponsor, moved amendment #2 as a technical wording change recommended by legal staff to align the statute with existing code language. Moss described the bill as a cleanup that clarifies who is not liable when administering naloxone and as a vehicle to expand access to the life‑saving antidote for friends, family and first responders.
Other representatives gave floor testimony about local experiences. Representative McHale noted multiple saves after local law enforcement began carrying naloxone. Representative Hemingway and others described additional saves and the continued urgency of addressing a heroin/opiate problem in the state. “Police officers now that are carrying it, have saved lives,” Moss said, recounting a Cottonwood Heights incident.
Members emphasized that the bill is a targeted technical fix that removes ambiguity in liability and ensures those who provide naloxone are covered. After discussion and a brief summation by the sponsor, the House approved first substitute HB66 as amended, 74–0, and sent it to the Senate.
Supporters framed the bill as practical, non‑controversial, and focused on public health impact rather than large policy changes.
