[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6361159,"mediaKeyId","2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb","parentId",2171015,"title","Senate committee advances bill to formalize coordination between DEQ and local health departments","audioSeconds",465,"startMs",120000,"endMs",585000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb&start=120&end=585","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb/thumbnail_120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361159/Utah/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-formalize-coordination-between-DEQ-and-local-health-departments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361159-752c259c4acfaede7e9b69ddeb7457a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141198&Signature=QtI8RkiGAyBIjeJc7O9MkLLmI5joForn1X7d4Id6Ba8L~ZUEN1MQpLh3ApmXjRCV4ofzE37UW~-N2o2CLpGcfKRWp0EM~E3ya2C8YMCVxBm71G1DljQu53~c5N~8nY~pqb498guJGIRxmTO~BiAH4QCwpSzh1y5cqM9FgOydLO8Xfk5QiwMrKKshSX1SauBNpbxRBte5P4ln531GEXpdtq6vvXHvMSm4pDl~86jBWiqkkTfkuArLlz9BSHN3kqeLE~n2vtisCaS4b8sNzWB722Dompiuv1Ii6waaqtN-IwetdIyC3P4H8~Ti4aP59Ip432CY0UyvagzHuPv36PIZ7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","A Senate Health and Human Services committee on an unspecified 2025 date unanimously advanced Senate Bill 172, a measure to formalize coordination between the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Utah’s 13 county-level local health departments.

Sponsor and local health department representatives told the committee the bill would create a policy framework modeled after the existing Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) arrangement to clarify roles, guide rulemaking, and direct resource allocation for environmental health services statewide. Jordan Mathis, representing the Association of Local Health Departments, said the bill “provides clarity through a policy framework that supports a systems approach between DEQ and local health departments” and asked the committee to adopt language that would require cooperative agreements and coordination on proposed rule development and resource allocation.

Kim Shelley, executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality, testified as a public witness and urged changes. Shelley said DEQ already meets routinely with local health departments, pointed to existing governance structures and statutory responsibilities, and flagged three key concerns: (1) the bill’s language could conflict with Title 26A-1-103 (county funding responsibilities for local health departments), (2) the governance committee the bill would create appears duplicative of an existing statutory committee, and (3) the civil-penalty recoupment provision could impose significant, unknown costs on DEQ because civil enforcement proceedings require agency-paid legal costs. “Those proceedings ... are not self-executing,” Shelley said, noting the agency would need to pay attorneys and that the fiscal impact depends on how broadly the civil-penalty authority is applied.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the reason for codification, the proportion of work local health departments do with DEQ versus DHHS, and whether all local health departments supported the bill. Mathis said the intent is to mirror the DHHS framework because it has helped resolve roles and resource-allocation questions. Shelley acknowledged ongoing coordination but recommended the sponsor and drafting attorney work to harmonize the bill with existing statutes and to better define fiscal responsibilities.

Senator Jerry Stevenson moved SB 172 be advanced from committee; the motion passed unanimously (recorded 3–0 in committee minutes). The sponsor said negotiations would continue to address DEQ's concerns.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Health and Human Services Committee - January 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Senate Health and Human Services committee unanimously advanced SB 172, a bill to formalize coordination and a cooperative-agreement requirement between the Department of Environmental Quality and Utah’s 13 local health departments.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361143,"Committee approves bill to create temporary daytime cooling centers for extreme heat",0,2844000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb&start=2844&end=2844","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb/thumbnail_2844000.jpg","/articles/6361143/Utah/Committee-approves-bill-to-create-temporary-daytime-cooling-centers-for-extreme-heat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361143-d06d85888f121aa277d136a02064de59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141198&Signature=W-w0Tshgw8JYZdgNWyih-3KoXHqLArUF69iunDA1k3x9kDf2uQh86JLgN8AYVd6YUnBc9ugjOUieEwU2FpKTsnXEJAtvxx8aIpSy0EYEakG94gd7CiUvRSY6-Lejn7j1gGnoCZnxLr~sB93qjh3VGFNjcp~QNHjdG4fzJxmjbKbTnYWJV~6gzA-~gLIXnSe03rYPrq7lEN8kSff27bjNkyQaGiopEumzxR5amhhTknQulyMt2gImtIPRj29YtHoL2UmXh-k4JLSbOPsAns0c63el~Hwz6P~xi5xhg13CN8FIit6vjTrKxmVjW3ArRqjSBIbUyza7Ddyrl3XTgQ45Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously advanced Senate Bill 182, a bill to create a ‘code red’ cooling-center requirement for counties to provide daytime shelter or cooling services to people experiencing homelessness when excessive heat creates health risks.

Sponsor Senator Wyler described the bill as a companion to Utah’s existing ‘code blue’ cold-weather shelter statute. Wyler said code red would be triggered by a high heat threshold to require cooling centers during daytime hours so individuals do not suffer life-threatening heat exposure. Wayne Niederhauser, who led stakeholder discussions during the interim, told the committee the bill will likely use heat-index strata (the National Weather Service “orange” heat-index level) rather than a raw temperature number; the working draft mentioned 105 degrees as a starting point for discussion. Niederhauser said the committee and sponsor will continue technical work with the National Weather Service and Department of Health to refine the exact trigger language.

Stakeholders discussed whether congregate versus non-congregate shelters should be treated differently; Niederhauser said non-congregate facilities such as converted hotels or micro-shelter sites may not be appropriate for expansion requirements and the bill may exempt non-congregate sites. Molly Wheeler of the Utah League of Cities and Towns testified that the League has technical concerns and will work with the sponsor and the Office of Homeless Services on clarifications.

Senator Stevenson moved passage; the committee recorded a favorable vote and advanced the bill to the Senate floor (recorded 4–0). Sponsors said some technical amendments are likely, including specifying the heat-index measure and a seasonal window similar to the current code-blue statute.","SB 182, sponsored by Senator Wyler, would create a 'code red' cooling-center trigger to provide daytime relief for people experiencing homelessness when heat reaches dangerous levels. The committee passed the bill and directed additional technical work to define the heat-index trigger and shelter types exempted.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361149,"Committee advances substitute to update child-welfare statutes on findings and timelines",310,2390000,2700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb&start=2390&end=2700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb/thumbnail_2390000.jpg","/articles/6361149/Utah/Committee-advances-substitute-to-update-child-welfare-statutes-on-findings-and-timelines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361149-386cfcd88139f7725727f31767070c35/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141198&Signature=TUuJ1r3-PipoSUc2hFQjbuMs9sUmFJB8OT~5xNEPd5k4Ti0R3FqzWgyzBQBa8wM9f24WJtnLZj7PkX4PTmrhZeGHE15Bm5~pTc4qUGfyvGUKNyC3kfE4DQ44IIfE3XX54myWOyJNr-nTrzUFaZpL0vouqt6F7guDGAedUQEwe5TS8KTbRTiZ0Y1hX54NUBWG5dd8vSLiKFLkgQv3Pd4rpUdO7xmnWwh~Xh7LvTLh0JTYV81QBvqlNcXxB3vZ-oTxl9CgEr36iDsvq-A9Nh5VlyHYjzkrGaYNRp9PBObTxuout15K4YLzqtbW722uEfiL87voLz8QQ4DEtff8npjkjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved a first substitute to SB 177, a package of updates to Utah’s child welfare statutes intended to clarify findings used in removal and review proceedings and to align some definitions with related criminal statutes.

Sponsor Senator Harper told the committee the substitute adds human-trafficking language to the definitions of conduct that can support removal findings, revises timelines for juvenile-shelter hearings and for alleged-perpetrator review requests, and clarifies that alleged perpetrators who have been convicted or entered no-contest pleas are not eligible to request review of findings. Senator Harper said changes reflect stakeholder work during the interim to align state code with federal law and recent court developments.

Andrew Garrett of the Utah Family Defenders Association testified in support, saying the substitute clarifies abuse categories, shortens timelines for DCFS findings and substantiation, and requires courts to weigh harm from removal when considering shelter hearings. Garrett said the changes also align presumptions that may disallow reunification services with federal standards.

The committee voted to pass the first substitute and advance SB 177 to the Senate floor with a favorable recommendation (recorded 4–0).","Senators passed a first substitute to SB 177 to update child-welfare code: clarifying findings, aligning child-abuse definitions with criminal code, adjusting timelines for alleged perpetrator reviews, and clarifying circumstances limiting reunification services. The Utah Family Defenders Association supported the bill.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361154,"Committee clears wide-ranging regulatory tweaks to Utah medical-cannabis program",885,1260000,2145000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb&start=1260&end=2145","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171015-b466cec4749557680d0e45162ab179cb/thumbnail_1260000.jpg","/articles/6361154/Utah/Committee-clears-wide-ranging-regulatory-tweaks-to-Utah-medical-cannabis-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361154-a81e8ebe5931e1a60210a3461d67f424/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141198&Signature=ei94lzMO5PXVKXjXR5NUKimix48wxz53crhTXjPT80syTpWu5eS9QiFz2sh8pAAQn7K9XQg6RD1o8UEFiwhjo1SAcI1ZwfJt2W6U5THFb8J5raPpCut6EDDSbcO97bM2BpeJOQurSa6MXlMIVBNTf7Ceks3~YPyNdZKCV-aq8fVy5zOe1~tB-81hngapyTaGkS3T8F0C37PznWxZ9Spaoz7FXE8WJnp1DyWEG7mtxsC3ukGoh5OXjVZlB6jLp2fHNJvzyLuJZjPKYmQ57n5A5i8o0QNjjZW0SS2vaG2E2D6tuvh-5gUnsQqxE7RY5dqCkbsxELzccbIx0e1--BpeVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed a first substitute of Senate Bill 64, a package of regulatory changes to Utah’s medical cannabis program intended to streamline licensing and enforcement and align several definitions and enforcement tools with other state programs.

Sponsor Senator Vickers said the substitute collects a variety of mostly technical updates developed with industry, patients, and agencies. Among the changes described: removal of a Division of Finance banking-scrutiny provision, standardization of the lookback period for certain disqualifying felonies to 10 years for courier-agent registration, addition of courier licensing to the agriculture licensing advisory board, and changes meant to increase employee portability between cannabis pharmacies.

On enforcement, Vickers said the bill would allow the Department of Agriculture and Food to issue an administrative “letter of concern” for non–public-health-threatening, minor compliance problems (for example, temperature recording or clerical recordkeeping issues). The letter of concern would provide suggested remedies and a 30-day reinspection window; if corrected, the letter would not become public. The sponsor said more serious violations would still allow for citation and fines.

The Department of Agriculture’s Cody James testified that the department supports many of the substitute’s changes, including a 45-day surveillance-retention clarification and a 45-day timeline for notifications after ownership changes. Industry witnesses — JD Lawrence (WholesomeCo), Justin Areola (Life Elevated Processing), and Narath Pawn (Dragonfly) — spoke in support, praising the bill as common-sense and helpful to program operations.

Senator Stevenson moved the substitute and the committee voted to pass the first substitute and then to advance the bill favorably to the Senate floor. Committee minutes record the committee vote as 4–0 in favor.","Senators unanimously approved a first substitute to SB 64, which contains technical and enforcement-related changes to Utah's medical cannabis program, including non-public 'letters of concern' for low-level violations, expanded advisory-board oversight, courier-license portability, and training and surveillance clarifications.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances bill to formalize coordination between DEQ and local health departments

Committee approves bill to create temporary daytime cooling centers for extreme heat

Committee advances substitute to update child-welfare statutes on findings and timelines

Committee clears wide-ranging regulatory tweaks to Utah medical-cannabis program