Amendment vs bill House Amendment 1 vs Introduced

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02-04 15:08 H.B.
H.B.
458 Preterm Birth Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
458 Preterm Birth Amendments House Amendments Amendment 1 February 16, 2026 08:23 AM Representative Lisa Shepherd proposes the following amendments:
Lisa Shepherd Senate Sponsor:
1.
Daniel McCay 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
Line 14 through 21:
This bill addresses preterm birth policies.
of preterm delivery;
Highlighted Provisions:
→prohibits the denial of lifesaving care to an infant based solely on the gestational age of the infant;
This bill:
→ {requires the Department of Health and Human Services to produce an annual report regarding preterm birth in the state;} →requires prenatal health care providers to discuss certain things with a pregnant patient before approximately 20 weeks gestation;
▸ requires facilities that provide birthing services to:
→addresses the rights of a patient during preterm birth;
● develop and publish policies regarding preterm birth;
and 2.
● inform parents about the facility's capability to provide lifesaving care for a premature infant;
Line 77 through 82:
and ● report to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding preterm births;
▸ requires a provider to consult with a neonatologist in certain circumstances relating to risk of preterm delivery;
▸ prohibits the denial of lifesaving care to an infant based solely on the gestational age of the infant;
▸ requires the Department of Health and Human Services to produce an annual report regarding preterm birth in the state;
▸ requires prenatal health care providers to discuss certain things with a pregnant patient before approximately 20 weeks gestation;
▸ addresses the rights of a patient during preterm birth;
and ▸ defines terms.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
H .
None B Other Special Clauses:
None 5 Utah Code Sections Affected:
8 ENACTS:
26B-2-244, Utah Code Annotated 1953 58-88-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953 H.B.
458 02-04 15:08 58-88-302, 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 .
Preterm birth at a health care facility.
(1)(a) As used in this section, "preterm birth" means a birth that occurs before 36 weeks of gestation.
(b) "Preterm birth" includes:
(i) "extremely preterm birth" or "periviable birth" which mean a birth that occurs before 25 weeks;
(ii) "late preterm birth" which means a birth that occurs between 34 and 36 weeks;
(iii) "moderately preterm birth" which means a birth that occurs between 32 and 34 weeks;
and (iv) "very preterm birth" which means a birth that occurs between 25 and 32 weeks.
(2) A health care facility that provides birthing services shall develop policies regarding preterm birth, including:
(a) types of lifesaving care that the facility is able and willing to provide for each type of preterm birth;
and (b) transferring a patient to a different health care facility that can provide treatment at a lower gestational age.
(3) A health care facility that provides birthing services shall publish the policies described in Subsection (2) in a conspicuous place on the health care facility's website.
(4) A health care facility that provides birthing services may not deny an infant lifesaving care based solely on the gestational age of the infant at birth.
(5) A health care facility shall, as soon as reasonably possible, inform an individual at risk for preterm birth of the health care facility's:
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(a) current capacity to treat each type of preterm birth;
(b) plan to transport the individual if appropriate;
and (c) policies described in Subsection (2).
(6) A parent that is experiencing or expected to imminently experience preterm birth has a right to:
(a) be informed in a timely manner of the health care facility's capabilities to provide lifesaving care for a preterm infant;
(b) request a transfer to a different health care facility that cares for infants at younger - 2 - 02-04 15:08 H.B.
458 gestational ages;
(c) consult with a maternal fetal medicine provider and a neonatologist regarding treatment options;
and (d) shared decision making with providers described in Subsection (6)(c).
(7) An attending provider at a health care facility that provides birthing services shall consult with a neonatologist if:
(a) the provider determines that a consultation is medically appropriate;
or (b) a parent that is experiencing or expected to imminently experience preterm birth requests the consultation.
(8) A health care facility that provides birthing services shall report data annually to the department including:
(a) the number of neonatal patients treated;
(9) The department shall publish an annual statewide neonatal outcome report including:
{(9) The department shall publish an annual statewide neonatal outcome report including:} {(a) aggregated statewide survival trends;
(a) aggregated statewide survival trends;
and} {(b) comparisons across levels of neonatal intensive care units.} - 1 -
and (b) comparisons across levels of neonatal intensive care units.
Section 2.
Section 58-88-301 is enacted to read:
Part 3.
Prenatal, Birthing, and Postpartum Health Professions 58-88-301 .
Definitions.
As used in this part, "prenatal health care provider" means a person that provides health care to a pregnant individual prior to the birth of a child and:
(1) is licensed under:
(a) Chapter 31b, Nurse Practice Act;
(b) Chapter 44a, Nurse Midwife Practice Act;
(c) Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act;
(d) Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act;
(e) Chapter 70a, Utah Physician Assistant Act;
(f) Chapter 71, Naturopathic Physician Practice Act;
(g) Chapter 77, Direct-Entry Midwife Act;
or (h) Chapter 81, Retired Volunteer Health Care Practitioner Act;
or (2) is an unlicensed direct-entry midwife as defined in Section 58-77-102.
Section 3.
Section 58-88-302 is enacted to read:
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458 02-04 15:08 58-88-302 .
Prenatal care.
(1) No later than approximately 20 weeks of gestation, a prenatal health care provider shall discuss the following with a pregnant individual:
(a) the signs and risks of preterm labor;
(b) the difference in treatment capabilities and outcomes for different levels of neonatal intensive care units in the area;
(c) a plan for where the pregnant individual should go for medical care if the individual may be experiencing specific problems with the individual's pregnancy:
(i) before 25 weeks gestation;
(ii) between 25 and 31 weeks gestation;
(iii) between 32 and 36 weeks gestation;
and (iv) at more than 36 weeks gestation;
(d) the ability for the prenatal health care provider and pregnant individual to consult with a neonatologist prior to labor or birth;
and (e) the patient's rights described in Subsection 26B-2-244(6).
(2) If an individual is anticipated to have an expected preterm birth, the individual's prenatal health care provider shall recommend that the individual receive a neonatology consultation prior to birth.
Section 4.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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