UtahUtah law would give parents access to children’s medical records
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah parents would generally be able to access their children’s medical records, while facilities and vendors would face specific duties and penalties.
What it does
Parents would generally be able to access their child’s medical records, including electronic records, with exceptions for court orders, loss of parental rights, marriage or emancipation, and sexual-assault counseling.
Facilities and medical-record vendors could face $1,000 daily fines for failing to support the required access, while the attorney general could sue and investigate violations.
When an electronic record cannot be displayed, facilities would have to tell eligible parents how to request it and provide it free within five business days.
Argument forParents could receive important information sooner when an electronic record is hidden, because facilities would have to provide inaccessible records quickly and without charge.
Argument againstFacilities and record-system vendors could face substantial daily fines if their systems or access controls do not meet the requirements after the enforcement date.
More detail
A parent may obtain and access the medical records that concern the parent’s child, and a health care facility may not restrict electronic access except for listed reasons. The rule covers children under 18 and their parents, but not records after parental rights end, after emancipation or marriage, when a court order requires restriction, or when records concern sexual-assault counseling. Health care facilities may restrict only the part of an electronic record covered by an exception. The rule does not apply to the Utah State Hospital. The provision takes effect May 6, 2026.
The attorney general may sue facilities and electronic medical-record vendors, investigate with subpoenas, and seek attorney fees; daily civil fines may apply for noncompliance. Facilities may face $1,000 for each day they improperly restrict electronic access, and vendors may face $1,000 for each day their systems cannot be adjusted to comply. A health care system with multiple violating facilities is fined as one facility. A court must award attorney fees to the attorney general when the attorney general wins the enforcement action. The Utah State Hospital is excluded from these enforcement provisions. The daily fines apply for violations occurring after December 31, 2027.
A health care facility must notify a parent when the electronic system cannot show an accessible record and must provide the requested records without charge within five business days. This applies when the system cannot provide access even though HIPAA and the bill’s exceptions do not otherwise block the parent’s access. The required notice must tell the parent how to request records and state the five-business-day deadline and possible $1,000 fine. A facility that misses the deadline may face a $1,000 fine per record. The notice, record-delivery, and per-record fine provisions take effect May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 26Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 7Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 7Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ to House
- Mar 6Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 6Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 6House/ to Senate
- Mar 6House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 6House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 6Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 6Senate/ substituted
- Mar 6Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0259S06
- Mar 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0259S06
- Mar 5LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0259S06
- Mar 5LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0259S06
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 2LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0259S05
- Mar 2LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0259S05
- Feb 27Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 27Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Major
- Feb 27LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0259S04
- Feb 27Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Minor
- Feb 27Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Minor
- Feb 27Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Minor
- Feb 27Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Major
- Feb 27LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0259S05
- Feb 27LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0259S05
- Feb 26LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0259S04
- Feb 25Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Business and Labor Committee]Minor
- Feb 25LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0259S04
- Feb 25LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0259S04
- Feb 20Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 19Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19House/ to Senate
- Feb 19House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 19House/ substituted
- Feb 19House/ uncircled
- Feb 19LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0259S03
- Feb 19LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0259S03
- Feb 18LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0259S03
- Feb 18LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0259S03
- Feb 18House/ circled
- Feb 18House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0259S02
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0259S02
- Feb 10House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 10House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]
- Feb 10House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]Minor
- Feb 10House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]Major
- Feb 9LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0259S02
- Feb 9LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0259S02
- Feb 4LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0259S01
- Feb 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0259S01
- Feb 2LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0259S01
- Feb 2LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0259S01
- Jan 29House/ to standing committee [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]Minor
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 17LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0259
- Jan 17LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0259
- Jan 14LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0259
- Jan 14LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0259
- Jan 14Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 14Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
HealthcareConsumer ProtectionGovernment & Ethics