HB 531

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 531
1Scarification Amendments
                                      2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                           STATE OF UTAH
                                  Chief Sponsor: Ashlee Matthews
                                     Senate Sponsor: Karen Kwan
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill addresses scarification.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7      This bill:
8      ▸ requires a body art facility that offers scarification to comply with certain requirements;
9      ▸ establishes the criminal offense of unlawful scarification of a minor;
10      ▸ requires the Office of Professional Licensure Review to review the practice of
11  scarification; and
12      ▸ defines terms.
13  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14      None
15  Other Special Clauses:
16      None
17  Utah Code Sections Affected:
18  AMENDS:
19      63I-2-226, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapters 277, 414
20      76-9-2001, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173
21  ENACTS:
22      26B-7-417, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23      76-9-2004, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24
25  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26Section 1. Section 26B-7-417 is enacted to read:
2726B-7-417 . Scarification safety requirements.
H.B. 531  Enrolled Copy
28   (1) A body art facility that practices or instructs scarification shall:
29(a) practice scarification procedures in a dedicated enclosed room that is not used for
30any other purpose;
31(b) obtain proof of age before performing a scarification procedure; and
32(c) provide a client, in writing, with:
33(i) instructions regarding proper care for the skin during the healing process after a
34scarification procedure, including warning signs of infection; and
35(ii) information about how to report an injury to the department.
36   (2) The department shall establish rules to ensure that a body art facility that practices or
37instructs scarification has adequate policies and procedures in place for client safety,
38including rules that address:
39(a) clothing;
40(b) personal protective equipment;
41(c) use of single-use instruments;
42(d) sanitization and disposal of tools; and
43(e) cleaning and bandaging a client's skin.
44   (3) The Office of Professional Licensure Review shall:
45(a) review the practice and instruction of scarification; and
46(b) report findings and recommendations to the Health and Human Services Interim
47Committee on or before November 1, 2026.
48Section 2. Section 63I-2-226 is amended to read:
4963I-2-226 . Repeal dates: Titles 26 through 26B.
50   (1) Section 26B-1-420, Cannabis Research Review Board, is repealed July 1, 2025.
51   (2) Subsection 26B-1-421(9)(a), regarding a report to the Cannabis Research Review
52Board, is repealed July 1, 2025.
53   (3) Section 26B-1-423, Rural Physician Loan Repayment Program Advisory Committee --
54Membership -- Compensation -- Duties, is repealed July 1, 2026.
55   (4) Section 26B-2-243, Data collection and reporting requirements concerning incidents of
56abuse, neglect, or exploitation, is repealed July 1, 2027.
57   (5) Subsection 26B-3-215(5), regarding reporting on coverage for in vitro fertilization and
58genetic testing, is repealed July 1, 2030.
59   (6) Subsection 26B-4-201(5), regarding the Cannabis Research Review Board, is repealed
60July 1, 2025.
61   (7) Subsection 26B-4-212(1)(b), regarding the Cannabis Research Review Board, is
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Enrolled Copy  H.B. 531
62      repealed July 1, 2025.
63  (8) Section 26B-4-702, Creation of Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance
64      Program, is repealed July 1, 2027.
65  (9) Subsection 26B-4-703(3)(b), regarding per diem and expenses for the Rural Physician
66      Loan Repayment Program Advisory Committee, is repealed July 1, 2026.
67  (10) Subsection 26B-4-703(3)(c), regarding expenses for the Rural Physician Loan
68      Repayment Program, is repealed July 1, 2026.
69  (11) Subsection 26B-4-703(6)(b), regarding recommendations from the Rural Physician
70      Loan Repayment Program Advisory Committee, is repealed July 1, 2026.
71  (12) Section 26B-5-117, Early childhood mental health support grant program, is repealed
72      January 2, 2025.
73  (13) Section 26B-5-302.5, Study concerning civil commitment and the Utah State Hospital,
74      is repealed July 1, 2025.
75  (14) Section 26B-6-414, Respite care services, is repealed July 1, 2025.
76  (15) Section 26B-7-120, Invisible condition alert program education and outreach, is
77      repealed July 1, 2025.
78  (16) Subsection 26B-7-417(3), regarding a review of scarification by the Office of
79      Professional Licensure Review, is repealed January 1, 2027.
80Section 3. Section 76-9-2001 is amended to read:
8176-9-2001 . Definitions.
82     As used in this part:
83  (1) "Body piercing" means the creation of an opening in the body, excluding the ear, for the
84      purpose of inserting jewelry or other decoration.
85  (2) "Consent of a minor's parent or legal guardian" means the presence of a parent or legal
86      guardian during the performance of tattooing or body piercing upon the minor after the
87      parent or legal guardian has provided:
88      (a) reasonable proof of personal identity and familial relationship; and
89      (b) written permission signed by the parent or legal guardian authorizing the
90performance of tattooing or body piercing upon the minor.
91  (3) "Minor" means a person younger than 18 years old who:
92      (a) is not married; and
93      (b) has not been declared emancipated by a court of law.
94  (4) "Scarification" means the process in which a mark is cut into human skin tissue with the
95      intent of leaving a permanent mark.
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 H.B. 531  Enrolled Copy
96   [(4)] (5) "Tattoo" means to fix an indelible mark or figure upon the body by inserting a
97pigment under the skin or by producing scars.
98Section 4. Section 76-9-2004 is enacted to read:
9976-9-2004 . Unlawful scarification of a minor.
100   (1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 and 76-9-2001 apply to this section.
101   (2) Except as provided in Subsection (4), an actor commits unlawful scarification of a
102minor if the actor performs or offers to perform scarification:
103(a) upon a minor; and
104(b) for remuneration or in the course of a business or profession.
105   (3) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of not less
106than $1,000.
107   (4) An actor is not guilty of violating Subsection (2) if the actor:
108(a) has no actual knowledge of the minor's age; and
109(b) reviews, photocopies, and retains the photocopy of an apparently valid driver license
110or other government-issued picture identification for the minor that expressly
111purports that the minor is 18 years old or older before the actor performs the
112scarification.
113Section 5. Effective Date.
114   This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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