HB 34 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Victim Rights Amendments

HB 34 updates Utah's victim rights complaint procedures by creating a coordinator role within the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. The coordinator receives and processes complaints about alleged violations of victim rights, forwards complaints to the appropriate judicial district committee, and ensures timely notifications to victims. Criminal justice agencies must now provide written policies for handling such complaints. This bill directly affects victims reporting rights violations, victim rights committees, and agencies like law enforcement, prosecutors, and corrections. No new funding is required for these administrative changes.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 25, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates Utah's victim rights framework by adding a new coordinator role to handle complaints and significantly overhauling the complaint process. The changes clarify definitions to exclude accomplices from victim status and establish a formal policy requirement for criminal justice agencies to address rights violations. A key addition is a new effective date of May 6, 2026, replacing the previous placeholder date.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of victim rights administration by creating a specific coordinator position and clarifying that criminal justice agencies must have written policies for addressing complaints.
REQUIREMENT

A new coordinator role was created to provide administrative assistance and process complaints for victim rights committees.

Criminal justice agencies are now required to establish and provide a policy for addressing complaints alleging violations of victim rights.

DEFINITION

Definitions for 'criminal justice agency' and 'victim' were updated to clarify responsibilities and exclude accomplices or codefendants from victim status.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date was changed from February 5, 2025, to May 6, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2026 · House Jan 20, 2026

How they voted

250
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 29
Mar 4, 2026
D Democratic6
5 Yea 1
83% Yea
N Forward1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican22
19 Yea 3
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
38
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Mar 25, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]
upper
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors