HB 221: Coercion Amendments - Utah

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill separates sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion into distinct crimes and adds mandatory fines for aiding or encouraging suicide and sexual extortion offenses. It also expands the definition of domestic violence to include these new sexual extortion charges and updates juvenile supervision rules to exclude certain serious offenses.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of domestic violence to include sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion, and clarifies the scope of sexual extortion by separating it from its aggravated form.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory minimum fines of $10,000 for aiding or encouraging suicide and $5,000 to $20,000 for sexual extortion offenses, which courts can no longer waive or suspend.

DEFINITION

Separated sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion into two distinct criminal offenses with specific elements for each.

SCOPE

Added sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion to the list of offenses that qualify as domestic violence when committed between cohabitants.

ELIGIBILITY

Excluded certain serious offenses, including aiding or encouraging suicide and aggravated kidnapping, from juvenile probation and secure care programs.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated lists of registrable offenses for sex offenders and kidnapping offenders to reflect the separation of sexual extortion charges.

Amended 2/12/2026 10:02:734 → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's criminal code to create a new offense for aiding or encouraging suicide, separates sexual extortion from aggravated sexual extortion into distinct crimes, and adds both to the list of domestic violence offenses. It also establishes a mandatory surcharge on fines for these new and existing coercive conduct crimes and updates background check requirements for individuals with direct access to children or vulnerable adults.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal liability by creating a new suicide-related offense and clarifying the distinction between sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion, while also broadening the definition of domestic violence to include these new offenses.

SCOPE

Created a new criminal offense for aiding or encouraging suicide, which now includes a new element for encouraging suicide on four or more separate occasions.

Separated the single offense of sexual extortion into two distinct offenses: sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion, with the latter carrying harsher penalties.

REQUIREMENT

Added sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion to the list of offenses that qualify as domestic violence, requiring mandatory fines for convictions of these crimes.

Increased the surcharge percentage on fines to 95% for convictions of aiding or encouraging suicide, sexual extortion, and aggravated sexual extortion.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated background check requirements for individuals with direct access to children or vulnerable adults to include a comprehensive review for specific offenses, including the new aiding or encouraging suicide charge.

ENFORCEMENT

Added aiding or encouraging suicide to the list of offenses for which prosecution may be commenced at any time and for which secure care jurisdiction does not apply to juveniles.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'sexual extortion' in child sexual abuse prevention training materials to include both sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion.

Amended Excerpts 2/12/2026 10:02:734 → Amended 2/12/2026 10:02:734 · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill creates new criminal offenses for aiding or encouraging suicide and separates sexual extortion from aggravated sexual extortion to better define penalties. It updates sex offender registration rules to include these new crimes, mandates fines for specific convictions, and expands the definition of domestic violence to include sexual extortion. The bill also adds aiding or encouraging suicide to the list of offenses that can be prosecuted at any time and establishes new requirements for juvenile supervision and secure care reviews.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal liability by adding aiding or encouraging suicide as a distinct felony and separating sexual extortion from aggravated sexual extortion. It also broadens the definition of domestic violence offenses to include sexual extortion and related crimes.

SCOPE

Created a new criminal offense for aiding or encouraging suicide, which now carries a mandatory fine of at least $10,000.

Separated sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion into two distinct offenses with specific elements and penalties.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory fines for convictions of aiding or encouraging suicide, sexual extortion, and aggravated sexual extortion.

Modified juvenile supervision and secure care rules to include aiding or encouraging suicide in the list of offenses exempting minors from certain supervision time limits.

Updated court order procedures for electronic communications to include aggravated sexual extortion of a child as a sexual offense against a minor.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated sex offender registration requirements to include the new offenses of aiding or encouraging suicide and sexual extortion.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of domestic violence to include sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion.

Added definitions for 'sexual extortion' in child sexual abuse prevention training materials.

ENFORCEMENT

Added aiding or encouraging suicide to the list of offenses that can be prosecuted at any time, regardless of when the act occurred.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/12/2026 10:02:734 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's criminal code to create new offenses for aiding or encouraging suicide and to separate sexual extortion from aggravated sexual extortion into distinct crimes. It establishes mandatory fines for these new and existing offenses and updates sex offender registration requirements to include the new sexual extortion charges. The bill also clarifies exemptions for interactive computer services regarding intimate image threats and adjusts juvenile supervision timelines for serious offenses.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal liability by creating a specific crime for aiding or encouraging suicide and by distinguishing between standard and aggravated sexual extortion, thereby allowing for more precise charging and sentencing. It also broadens the list of registrable offenses for sex offenders.

SCOPE

Created a new criminal offense for aiding or encouraging suicide, separating it from manslaughter and adding specific elements like repeated encouragement.

Separated sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion into two distinct offenses to allow for clearer legal definitions and sentencing guidelines.

REQUIREMENT

Established mandatory minimum fines for convictions of aiding or encouraging suicide, sexual extortion, and aggravated sexual extortion.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated sex offender registration laws to include sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion as registrable offenses.

DEFINITION

Added exemptions for interactive computer services under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act regarding liability for user-provided content in sexual extortion cases.

TIMELINE

Adjusted juvenile supervision and secure care termination timelines for specific serious offenses, including the new aiding or encouraging suicide charge.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized and renumbered subsections within the sexual extortion statute to clarify the conditions under which the law does not apply.

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

This bill separates sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion into distinct crimes, creates a new standalone offense for aiding or encouraging suicide with mandatory fines, and adds these crimes to the list of domestic violence offenses. It also updates registration requirements for sex offenders and modifies juvenile supervision rules for specific serious crimes.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal liability by creating new specific offenses for suicide encouragement and separating sexual extortion into two distinct crimes, while also broadening the definition of domestic violence to include these new offenses.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new criminal offense for 'aiding or encouraging suicide' (Section 76-5-211) with mandatory fines of at least $10,000 for adults and $20,000 for aggravated cases.

Added sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion to the list of offenses eligible to be classified as domestic violence.

DEFINITION

Separated 'sexual extortion' and 'aggravated sexual extortion' into two distinct crimes to clarify penalties and elements.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated sex offender registration laws to reflect the new separation of sexual extortion offenses and adjusted registration lengths based on specific circumstances.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified juvenile court jurisdiction rules to exclude minors adjudicated for aiding or encouraging suicide from certain supervision termination provisions.

TECHNICAL

Corrected references to the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act title and updated various section references throughout the code.

Coercion Amendments

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