UT HB0205

Authorizes county sheriffs to establish voluntary recovery housing pods within jails for inmates with substance use disorders, offering structured treatment programs including daily routines, peer support, job training, and reentry planning, with local substance abuse authority approval required

Restricts syringe exchange programs by prohibiting distribution of drug paraphernalia other than syringes (such as pipes and straws), banning exchanges in public parks, and requiring written authorization from government entities to operate on public property

Allows justice courts in first or second class counties to create STEP (Structured Treatment and Enforcement Pathway) Supervision Programs for individuals convicted of substance-related offenses, incorporating graduated sanctions, drug testing, employment requirements, and treatment plans

Authorizes courts to issue off-limits orders barring individuals charged with or convicted of drug offenses from entering the public place where the offense occurred for up to one year, with violations constituting a class A misdemeanor

Takes effect May 6, 2026, with existing recovery housing pods established before that date exempt from new requirements until July 1, 2029