Senate floor roundup: AI disclosure, vaping limits, Medicaid parity and other bills move forward

The Utah Senate advanced and passed a broad set of measures during a packed morning floor session, approving bills on technology, public health, taxation and education.

Artificial intelligence: Senate Bill 149, described by its sponsor as a regulatory framework for AI, passed after debate. On the floor the sponsor acknowledged using an AI tool (ChatGPT) to draft remarks and said the bill would require disclosure when consumers interact with AI-driven interfaces. Senators asked about ethics constraints for content generated by AI and whether the person prompting an AI would be accountable; the sponsor said persons who prompt or use AI in applicable contexts would be subject to the bill’s disclosure and ethical standards.

Vaping and e-cigarettes: Third substitute Senate Bill 61 passed after sponsors said it aims to restrict flavored vaping products that appeal to youth, requires PMTA certification for products sold in the state, establishes a product registry and sets fee language discussed on the floor — the sponsor cited a $1,000 initial charge per product and a $250 annual renewal fee for registry inclusion. The substitute also clarified enforcement roles between the Tax Commission and public-health agencies.

Medicaid and health-care measures: Senate Bill 197, which ties Medicaid reimbursement rates for autism services to parity with other behavioral-disorder rates, was presented as a corrective step to long-standing rate discrepancies and passed unanimously. Other health and workforce bills (physician workforce amendments, nursing care facility modifications) also moved forward from consent or concurrence calendars.

Consent- and concurrence-calendar business: The clerk read many House-passed items that were transmitted for Senate consideration; standing committee reports were approved and multiple bills were placed on second-reading or sent back to the House after unanimous or recorded votes. Floor leaders urged prompt movement to scheduled committee meetings and the Senate recessed until 2 p.m.