Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments

7
26B-2-244
58-1-605
63G-1-401
26B-2-244
58-1-605
63G-1-401
0
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Ryan D. Wilcox
Senate Sponsor: Luz Escamilla
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses pregnancy and infant loss.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
requires the Division of Licensing and Background Checks, with the Office of Maternal
and Child Health, to establish rules and procedures for a health care facility that
provides birthing services when an individual experiences a pregnancy or infant loss; and
requires the Division of Professional Licensing, with the Department of Health and
Human Services, to develop a training for certain health care professionals on
supporting an individual experiencing a pregnancy or infant loss.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63G-1-401
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 351
ENACTS:
26B-2-244
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
58-1-605
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
26B-2-244
is enacted to read:
26B-2-244
. Bereavement practices in health care facilities that provide birthing
services.
(1)
The division, in collaboration with the Office of Maternal and Child Health, shall
establish rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
Rulemaking Act, regarding required practices when an individual experiences a
pregnancy or infant loss at a health care facility that provides birthing services, to ensure
that the individual experiencing the loss is treated with dignity and compassion.
(2)
Required practices described in Subsection
(1)
may include:
(a)
opportunities for a parent to have memory-making experiences, such as photos, hand
and foot molds, keepsakes, or written materials, when it is practicable based on the
age of the infant or other factors;
(b)
access to grief counseling;
(c)
procedures when a loss is anticipated before birth;
(d)
referrals to or collaboration with organizations that provide support or resources for
parents experiencing a loss;
(e)
access to a perinatal cooling device; or
(f)
permitting a parent sufficient time and space with the parent's infant.
(3)
The division shall require compliance with the policies and rules developed in
accordance with this section as a condition of initial licensure or licensure renewal for a
facility that provides birthing services.
Section 2. Section
58-1-605
is enacted to read:
58-1-605
. Required bereavement training.
(1)
(a)
The division, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services,
shall develop an optional training to educate health care providers on best practices
for supporting patients and families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss.
(b)
The training shall be for providers, but may incorporate rules and procedures relating
to pregnancy and infant loss for health care facilities described in Section
26B-2-244
.
(2)
The division shall establish rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, that allow licensed health care professionals that work
in emergency care, obstetrics and gynecology, and labor and delivery settings to take the
bereavement training and have the training apply to the health care professional's
continuing medical education credit requirements.
Section 3. Section
63G-1-401
is amended to read:
63G-1-401
. Commemorative periods.
(1)
As used in this section, "commemorative period" means a special observance declared
by the governor that annually recognizes and honors a culturally or historically
significant day, week, month, or other time period in the state.
(2)
(a)
The governor may declare a commemorative period by issuing a declaration.
(b)
The governor shall maintain a list of all commemorative periods declared by the
governor.
(3)
(a)
The governor's declaration of a commemorative period expires the year
immediately following the day on which the governor issues the declaration.
(b)
Subsection
(3)(a)
does not prevent the governor from redeclaring a commemorative
period before or after the commemorative period expires.
(4)
Notwithstanding Subsections
(2)
and
(3)
, the following days shall be commemorated
annually:
(a)
Utah History Day at the Capitol, on the Friday immediately following the fourth
Monday in January, to encourage citizens of the state, including students, to
participate in activities that recognize Utah's history;
(b)
Day of Remembrance for Incarceration of Japanese Americans, on February 19, in
remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II;
(c)
Utah State Flag Day, on March 9;
(d)
Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, on March 29;
(e)
Utah Railroad Workers Day, on May 10;
(f)
Dandy-Walker Syndrome Awareness Day, on May 11;
(g)
Armed Forces Day, on the third Saturday in May, in honor of men and women who
are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces around the world in
defense of freedom;
(h)
Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Awareness Day, on June 30;
(i)
Navajo Code Talker Day, on August 14;
(j)
Rachael Runyan/Missing and Exploited Children's Day, on August 26, the
anniversary of the day three-year-old Rachael Runyan was kidnaped from a
playground in Sunset, Utah, to:
(i)
encourage individuals to make child safety a priority;
(ii)
remember the importance of continued efforts to reunite missing children with
their families; and
(iii)
honor Rachael Runyan and all Utah children who have been abducted or
exploited;
(k)
September 11th Day of Remembrance, on September 11, in honor and remembrance
of the first responders and persons killed and injured in the terrorist attacks on
September 11, 2001;
(l)
Constitution Day, on September 17, to invite all Utah adults and Utah school children
to read directly from the United States Constitution and other primary sources, and
for students to be taught principles from the United States Constitution that include
federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, limited
government, and the necessary and proper, commerce, and supremacy clauses;
(m)
POW/MIA Recognition Day, on the third Friday in September;
(n)
Victims of Communism Memorial Day, on November 7;
(o)
Indigenous People Day, on the Monday immediately preceding Thanksgiving; and
(p)
Bill of Rights Day, on December 15.
(5)
The Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall coordinate activities, special
programs, and promotional information to heighten public awareness and involvement
relating to Subsections
(4)(g)
and
(m)
.
(6)
The month of April shall be commemorated annually as Clean Out the Medicine
Cabinet Month to:
(a)
recognize the urgent need to make Utah homes and neighborhoods safe from
prescription medication abuse and poisonings by the proper home storage and
disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications; and
(b)
educate citizens about the permanent medication disposal sites in Utah listed on
useonlyasdirected.org that allow disposal throughout the year.
(7)
The second full week of April shall be commemorated annually as Animal Care and
Control Appreciation Week to recognize and increase awareness within the community
of the services that animal care and control professionals provide.
(8)
The first full week of May shall be commemorated annually as State Water Week to
recognize the importance of water conservation, quality, and supply in the state.
(9)
The third full week of June shall be commemorated annually as Workplace Safety
Week to heighten public awareness regarding the importance of safety in the workplace.
(10)
The second Friday and Saturday in August shall be commemorated annually as Utah
Fallen Heroes Days to:
(a)
honor fallen heroes who, during service in the military or public safety, have
sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the citizens of the state; and
(b)
encourage political subdivisions to acknowledge and honor fallen heroes.
(11)
The third full week in August shall be commemorated annually as Drowsy Driving
Awareness Week to:
(a)
educate the public about the relationship between fatigue and driving performance;
and
(b)
encourage the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation to
recognize and promote educational efforts on the dangers of drowsy driving.
(12)
The month of September shall be commemorated annually as American Founders and
Constitution Month to:
(a)
encourage all civic, fraternal, and religious organizations, and public and private
educational institutions, to recognize and observe this occasion through appropriate
programs, teaching, meetings, services, or celebrations in which state, county, and
local governmental officials are invited to participate; and
(b)
invite all Utah school children to read directly from the United States Constitution
and other primary sources, and to be taught principles from the United States
Constitution that include federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers,
popular sovereignty, limited government, and the necessary and proper, commerce,
and supremacy clauses.
(13)
The third full week of September shall be commemorated annually as Gang Prevention
Awareness Week.
(14)
The month of October shall be commemorated annually as Italian-American Heritage
Month.
(15)
The month of November shall be commemorated annually as American Indian
Heritage Month.
(16)
The first full week of December shall be commemorated annually as Avalanche
Awareness Week to:
(a)
educate the public about avalanche awareness and safety;
(b)
encourage collaborative efforts to decrease annual avalanche accidents and fatalities;
and
(c)
honor Utah residents who have lost their lives in avalanches, including those who
lost their lives working to prevent avalanches.
Section 4.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
3-10-26 8:53 AM