S.B. 317 Opioid Terminology Amendments

What this bill does

S.B. 317 changes the word "opiate" to "opioid" throughout the Utah Code where it appears, including in the defined terms "opiate antagonist" and "opiate related drug overdose event," which would become "opioid antagonist" and "opioid related drug overdose event." The bill's latest version, the first substitute, adds coordinating language, and the sponsor describes the changes as terminology cleanup.

Plain-English summary written by AI from the official description. Check the official text below.

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Every vote

• 4 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Health and Human Services Committee: vote to change the bill · Mar 2, 2026Who voted how
• 4 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Health and Human Services Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 2, 2026Who voted how
• 4 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Health and Human Services Committee: Consent Calendar Recommendation · Mar 2, 2026Who voted how
• 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 3, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Mar 2, 2026 Senate Health and Human Services Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (13 turns)

  1. Acting Chair Sen. Keven J. Stratton53:39

     We have Senate Bill three 17 opioid terminology, amendments, And of course, I should have had it pulled up and had clicked that window off.

  2. Sen. Jen Plumb53:50

     Here we go. Right here. Um, yes, Mr. Chair and committee, fellow committee members, I would love to move the first sub if we could it, uh, simply add some coordinating, uh, language.

  3. Acting Chair Sen. Keven J. Stratton54:03

     I'll make that motion. Discussion. The motion. All in favor of adopting first substitute opioid terminology, amendments, body and title please say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Nay. Okay. You're sub, you're substituted.

  4. Sen. Jen Plumb54:18

     Okay. Substitute. I will speak. But you stay around. Yes. Don't leave This bill. Um, it's interesting. As I've worked through different opioid policy over the last decade or so, we find ourselves in a whole lot of different codes and a variety of different code spaces. And one of the things that we've noted over time is that some of the terminology and language has changed. Uh, and for example, if you recall hearing about the opiate epidemic, and now you probably more frequently hear about the opioid epidemic. Well, pharmacists will tell you that opiate means a pure plant-based substance like opium, uh, or heroin. And an opioid means either synthetically created or altered substance. When we're working clinically, we actually think of them very much the same. They interact, act in the body in the same way you treat and overdose the same way. They run their same risks, but there are differences in terminology. And so, as time has gone along, and as I worked on a couple few opioid related bills this session, it became clear to us that we should probably clean up some of this language. So as you go through the code, um, changes terms as opiate to opioid, like substance changes, the definition of the term opiate antagonist, which is what Naloxone is to opioid antagonist. And then changes a defined term opiate related drug overdose event to opioid related drug overdose event. It is not as, uh, uh, an earth shattering change, but it is bringing things up to date with the language. And in consulting with some pharmacy and physician colleagues, it's more reflective of, uh, where the language should be. So it is a cleanup and, um, has been a little bit in the making, but I feel good about where it's ended up.

  5. Acting Chair Sen. Keven J. Stratton55:56

     Thank you. We'll open up for clarifying questions from the committee. See none. Is anybody here who would like to speak to this? Open up to public comment. See none will bring it back to the committee for further action.

  6. Sen. Emily Buss56:15

     Uh, Senator Bus, I, I admit That we, sorry, I move that we pass this out. Favorably.

  7. Acting Chair Sen. Keven J. Stratton56:27

     Motion is in order. The motion is to pass out senate bill three 17 opioid terminology amendments for substitute discussion to the motion. See none. Bring it back to the sponsor. Oh,

  8. Sen. Jen Plumb56:43

     I would wa summation. Thank you.

  9. Acting Chair Sen. Keven J. Stratton56:44

     Thank you. And to the maker of the motion, I waive All in favor of the motion as stated, please say Aye. Aye. Aye. Passes unanimously. Mr.

  10. Sen. Jen Plumb56:53

      Chair, might I make a motion to put this on

  11. Acting Chair Sen. Keven J. Stratton56:54

      Consent? You may make a motion. Please proceed.

  12. Sen. Jen Plumb56:57

      Okay. I would like to make a motion that we place this on the consent calendar, uh, Senate bill three 17. First substitute

  13. Acting Chair Sen. Keven J. Stratton57:04

      Motion is in order. Discussion to the motion. See none will bring it back. All in favor of the motion. To put this on the consent calendar, please say, aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed say nay. Very good. You go. You're substituted and consented. How's that? Efficient? That's awesome. Much efficiency. Next we have, uh, house bill

• Mar 3, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (7 turns)

  1. Sen. Jen Plumb27:16

     Senator Plumb. Thank you Mr. President. This bill is a bit of a cleanup bill Over the last decade or so, as the opioid crisis has evolved and our conversations around it have evolved as well, you may have noticed things like we don't say opiate as much as we say opioid these days. And technically I could ping our pharmacist colleague. Opiate means a pure plant-based substance like opium or heroin. And an opioid means either a synthetically created or altered substance. And so after working on a number of bills over the years, um, the drafters and I decided, let's just clean up the language. So this bill changes the term opiate to opioid, like substance changes the defined terms and opioid opiate antagonist to opiate antagonist. Opioid antagonist. Excuse me. Boy, I'm starting to stumble on my tongue here a little bit, but in, in essence it's a bring us up to date on terminology and make our code be actually reflective of the language. Thank you. Do we have discussion to the bill?

  2. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)28:16

     Saying none to you Senator Plumb, I'm gonna go, uh, go to you for a motion.

  3. Sen. Jen Plumb28:20

     Uh, thank you Mr. President. Under suspension of the rules, I would, um, move that this bill pass out of the Senate.

  4. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)28:26

     Thank you. The question is, under suspension of the rules shall first substitute Senate Bill three 17 pass Roll call vote. Senator Spery Lewin Bramer bus Colmore Escamilla Aye. Fillmore Grover Aye. Harper Aye. Hankins Ipson Aye. Johnson. Aye. You there? Juab? Aye. McKay Mikel. Aye. Milner Musman Owens pitcher Plum. Plum. Aye. Rei A sandal Stevenson, shoot. I think I Stratton already Move the Senate. Vickers Weiler aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton President Adams Aye. First substitute Senate Bill three 17. Having received 26 sha votes, zero nay votes, three being absent passes, this body will be sent to the house for their consideration.

  5. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)29:39

     Uh, that concludes our work on well the, the Uncircled bills on the second reading calendar. Do we have anybody who wants to encircle a Senate bill on the second reading calendar? Senator Sandall.

  6. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)30:18

     Yep. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Will that motion passes? The bill is uncircled. I wanna make sure we get it before. There we go.

  7. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)30:28

     Senator Sandall.