Tooele, Utah lawmaker reintroduces two transgender-related bills
Republican Rep. Nicholeen P. Peck of Tooele has sponsored two bills in the 2026 Utah Legislature aimed at restricting public funding for transgender medical care and limiting employer discipline over gender-related language. These bills reflect ongoing debate surrounding Utah transgender rights and public policy.
HB 193: Transgender Medical Procedures Amendments would bar the use of public funds for specified transgender medical treatments and procedures, including hormone therapy and surgical interventions. If enacted, the bill would prohibit public insurance programs — including Medicaid and state employee plans — from covering gender-affirming care. The proposal follows a similar measure introduced last year that did not receive a committee hearing and failed to advance in the 2025 session. Utah transgender advocates have expressed concern about the impact of such legislation on access to care.
HB 95: Public Employee Gender-specific Language Requirements seeks to restrict disciplinary actions by public employers against employees for using gender-specific language in certain circumstances. The introduced version is designed to prevent public employers from penalizing workers, including teachers, for using language based on biological sex or an employee’s sincerely held beliefs, and would require employers that mandate gender-specific language to provide exemptions under specified conditions. In Utah, transgender individuals and their supporters are monitoring both bills closely. Overall, Utah transgender legislation in 2026 continues to shape the state’s legal landscape.
