Committee backs bill clarifying legal status of tribal and indigenous traditional healers

Representative Fitisimano introduced HB277 as a measure to place traditional healing services under tribal and indigenous community authority rather than state licensure. The sponsor said the bill "does not in any way seek to expand the existing scope" but would clarify that these providers "do not need to be licensed by the state" when their practice is recognized by tribes.

Yvette Romero Coronado, a licensed clinical social worker and University of Utah professor, described both personal and clinical reasons for the measure. She said patients sometimes hesitate to disclose traditional-care use to clinicians out of fear of reprisal and that the bill "would say to my family... it's legal and okay to seek services and to our trusted elders and practitioners." Committee members asked whether the bill covers non-indigenous systems; sponsor clarified the statutory definition applies only to practices recognized by American Indian or Alaska Native tribes and does not include acupuncture or other systems.

The committee adopted substitute language and voted to advance HB277 with a favorable recommendation.