SB 169 Utah Senate · 2025 General Session

Governmental Immunity Act Amendments

SB 169 amends Utah's Governmental Immunity Act to clarify how citizens can sue government entities. It requires all governmental entities to file specific details - like any business name they use, their legal service address, and who receives legal notices - with the Division of Corporations. If a government entity fails to file this information but knows about a legal claim, it cannot later challenge the validity of the notice or lawsuit. This change primarily affects citizens seeking to file claims against government agencies by making it harder for those agencies to avoid liability due to incomplete records. The bill makes no changes to funding or substantive immunity rules.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Signed Mar 26, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #2 → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 26, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's Governmental Immunity Act to require state and local entities to file a public statement with the Division of Corporations listing their official names, any 'doing-business-as' names, and specific contact addresses for legal notices. If an entity fails to update this statement, it cannot later claim that a lawsuit was filed incorrectly or too late, provided the entity actually knew about the claim. The bill also adds definitions for interlocal entities and energy hubs, and includes technical updates to other sections regarding religious freedom and land use claims.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of entities required to file a public notice statement to include those using 'doing-business-as' names and clarifies the rules for interlocal entities and energy hubs.

REQUIREMENT

Requires governmental entities to file and update a public statement with the Division of Corporations containing their official name, any alternate 'doing-business-as' names, and specific addresses for receiving legal notices.

ENFORCEMENT

Prohibits governmental entities from challenging the validity or timeliness of a lawsuit if they failed to file the required statement and had actual notice of the claim.

DEFINITION

Adds new definitions for 'associated entity,' 'indexed office,' 'principal county,' 'Utah interlocal energy hub,' and expands the definition of 'taxed interlocal entity' to include specific energy-related facilities.

TIMELINE

Updates the timeline for filing claims and commencing lawsuits in specific sections, including provisions for claims filed with incorrect entities or addresses.

TECHNICAL

Makes technical and conforming changes to section numbering and cross-references throughout the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 26, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 7, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

legislature

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor