A Utah lawmaker has introduced a bill that would prevent surviving spouses from being held responsible for their deceased partner’s medical debt.
Driving the news: State Sen. Stephanie Pitcher [D-Salt Lake City] is sponsoring legislation, S.B. 175, that would amend Utah’s existing statutes on family expenses, removing medical bills from the list of debts that spouses are jointly responsible for.
- Under current Utah law, medical debt incurred by one spouse is considered a family expense, making both partners liable.
- Pitcher argues that this practice places an unfair financial burden on families already coping with loss.
What they’re saying: “It just seems fundamentally wrong that… medical bills would be passed to a surviving spouse,” Pitcher told KSL NewsRadio. “Medical debt ends up being the number one driver that can completely devastate a family financially.”
The details: The bill, which is awaiting its first hearing in a Senate committee, would:
- Exempt a deceased spouse’s medical expenses from being classified as a family expense.
- Modify Utah’s legal definitions related to family expenses.
- Maintain joint liability for other shared household expenses, such as food, clothing, and home improvements over $5,000.
If passed, the bill would take effect on May 7, 2025.
The backstory: Pitcher previously introduced a similar bill three years ago. While it advanced to the Senate, it failed to clear the Legislature before the session ended.
- “There was ultimately, I think, a recognition that what’s happening isn’t fair,” Pitcher said. “It is completely burdensome to families, and there’s got to be a better way.”
What’s next: The bill must pass through a Senate committee before moving to the full Senate. If approved, it will head to the House for further debate.
