Utah Quietly Bans State Funds for SSP, in Bill Restricting Pre-Trial Release

Utah Quietly Bans State Funds for SSP, in Bill Restricting Pre-Trial Release

On March 25, Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) signed a wide-ranging bill purportedly focused on the state’s criminal-legal statutes, but that also includes a line item prohibiting use of state funding to operate syringe service programs (SSP). Utah authorized SSP in 2016, but has never directly funded them. While the dozen or so SSP currently operating within the state remain eligible for local and federal funding, this closes the door on state fun…