Senate updates anatomical‑gift law, lowers application age to 15 and strengthens donor intent

SALT LAKE CITY — Lawmakers moved to modernize Utah’s anatomical‑gift (organ‑donation) statute, strengthening the legal recognition of donor intent and adding procedural protections intended to increase available transplants.

Senator Hilliard, sponsor of SB92, told colleagues the bill aligns Utah law with the national uniform anatomical‑gift framework, clarifies that a donor designation on a driver‑license application is binding, and provides hospital protocols to avoid premature embalming that would make donation impossible. He also explained a practical change: if several next‑of‑kin are notified and a majority are present, that majority can determine whether to proceed with donation.

An amendment from the driver's license division changed the age for making a donor designation on the license application from 16 to 15; that change was adopted on the floor. Senator Hilliard said the driver license agency requested the amendment because applicants can indicate donor intent when applying for a learner permit at about age 15. “It really recognizes a donor’s intent,” Hilliard said, and supporters argued the change will improve registry accuracy and increase organ availability.

Supporters noted long waiting lists for organs and said better registry and notification practices could help more patients. Several senators expressed emotional and practical support during debate and the bill was moved for third reading; roll call shows the bill received 26 yes votes with 3 absent at the time it was leveled for third reading.

Key details: amendment lowered the application age for a donor designation from 16 to 15; the bill strengthens the binding nature of a donor designation on a license, clarifies family decision rules, and directs hospitals and morticians to attempt family notification before irreversible procedures such as embalming.

The bill proceeds to third reading on the Senate calendar for potential final passage.