About OPLR

OPLR was created to fulfill the vision of Governor Spencer Cox in his Executive Order 2021-01 and in the statute enacted by the Utah Legislature in SB 16 (2022 General Session). OPLR’s statute, Utah Code 13 Chapter 1b, was subsequently updated by HB 474 (2025 General Session), SB 33 (2026 General Session), and SB 150 (2026 General Session). The current version of OPLR’s statute can be found here.

OPLR has a variety of roles related to licensure in Utah:

  • Reviewing each currently regulated occupation at least once every 10 years (periodic reviews);
  • Reviewing proposals for new occupational regulation (licensing, certification, registration) (sunrise reviews);
  • Responding to legislator inquiries about licensing (legislative inquiries);
  • Reviewing administrative rules related to occupational regulations (rule review);
  • Evaluating whether to integrate innovative practices into a regulated health profession's scope of practice (scope of practice review); and
  • Collecting requests from the public to repeal or modify existing occupational regulation (public submissions).

OPLR conducts its reviews using criteria outlined in Utah Code 13-1b-302, which include:

  • The potential for and extent of harm to the health, safety or financial welfare of the Utah public;
  • Licensure’s impact on public access to services and workforce entry;
  • Regulations in other jurisdictions and the feasibility of less burdensome alternatives;
  • Other considerations, such as a regulation’s impact on reciprocity/mobility and healthcare reimbursement (where applicable).

In performing its work, OPLR seeks to balance protecting the public with minimizing the burden for qualified individuals to practice in their chosen occupations and provide services.

OPLR’s work can apply to any regulation of an occupation that is administered by an Utah executive branch agency (Utah Code 13-1b-102). However, as an independent research and analysis body, OPLR's findings and recommendations are not binding. OPLR’s reviews inform the Utah Legislature and relevant executive branch agencies, who have discretion to adopt, amend or reject particular recommendations (Utah Code 13-1b-202).