A bill intended to reduce fentanyl overdose deaths in Utah by decriminalizing the use of fentanyl test strips passed the Utah Legislature on Wednesday.
Freshman Sen. Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, co-founded Utah Naloxone, an advocacy group that helps distribute kits that can reverse overdoses caused by opioids, prior to being elected to the Senate. SB86 marks her first successful bill in the"As a freshman senator, you hope that you came come in and learn some things and, maybe if you're lucky, have a bill or two that gets some traction," Plumb told reporters Wednesday.
Heather Bush, with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, told a House committee last week that several clinics had reached out saying they were legally barred from purchasing test strips because they are considered paraphernalia. Plumb's bill wouldn't decriminalize the possession of drugs, but it would allow clinics like those to purchase and distribute the tests.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Legislature approves amended resolution to end Utah's trigger abortion banThe Legislature gave final approval to an amended resolution that could make it easier for the state to end the hold on Utah's trigger abortion ban.
Read more »
Letter: Utah’s Legislature is bullying transgender childrenUtah’s Legislature recently passed SB16 which targets transgender children, preventing them and their parents from making informed medical decisions about their own medical needs. Gov. Spencer Cox then signed the bill into law.
Read more »
Utah strikes deal with Texas Instruments for $11B expansion in LehiThe expansion of the Lehi plant, which currently employs about 1,100 people, will bring some 800 additional jobs to Utah's Silicon Slopes. 'These are high-paying jobs,' said Texas Instruments CEO Haviv Ilan, with an average salary of $110,000.
Read more »
At least 830 people were forcibly sterilized at state institutions. Now one Utah agency is looking for survivors.A study by researchers at the University of Utah published Wednesday sheds light on how many people faced forced sterilization while being kept in state institutions. At least 830 men, women and children were sterilized under a law the Utah Legislature passed in 1925, according to research led by philosophy professor James Tabery.
Read more »
Listen: Kansas, Michigan offer lessons for Democratic governors with a GOP legislatureKansas and Michigan offer lessons for Democratic governors with GOP legislatures ― just like Katie Hobbs has in Arizona.
Read more »
NC bill that requires high school students to pass a computer science class advances in LegislatureA North Carolina House committee has approved legislation that would mandate high schoolers to pass a computer science class starting in fall 2024.
Read more »