Bernard Siegel, founder of the Healthspan Action Coalition, discusses new legislation in states such as Florida, Utah and Montana that permits licensed physicians to administer investigational stem cell treatments without full FDA approval. These laws define sourcing, consent and advertising requirements to safeguard patients, framing states as “laboratories of democracy” in advancing regenerative medicine policy and pushing for federal regulatory reform.

Key points

• Florida SB1768 allows licensed physicians to administer defined unapproved stem cell therapies in orthopedics, wound care and pain management.
• Statutes mandate accredited cell sourcing, prohibit embryonic/fetal materials, and enforce informed consent and advertising transparency.
• States like Utah and Montana serve as policy testbeds (“laboratories of democracy”) to drive federal regulatory reform for cell therapies.

Why it matters: State policies on stem cell access may redefine national regulatory frameworks for patient autonomy and accelerate regenerative therapy adoption.