HB 370: Sex Offender Oversight Amendments - Utah

Amended 3/3/2026 18:03:382 → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's sex offender registry laws to improve oversight for offenders who cannot provide a residential address by creating a new GPS monitoring program. It clarifies definitions of 'residence' to exclude vehicles and temporary structures, assigns specific monitoring duties to local law enforcement and the Division of Adult Probation and Parole, and establishes a legal presumption that courts should issue arrest warrants rather than summons for offenders who fail to comply with these new requirements.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of monitoring to include sex offenders who are homeless or lack a fixed address, shifting oversight responsibility from the state to local agencies in specific cases.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new monitoring program requiring GPS tracking for sex offenders who cannot provide a residential address to the registry.

Assigned specific responsibilities to local law enforcement agencies and the Division of Adult Probation and Parole to oversee and monitor offenders under the new program.

Required the Department of Public Safety to develop an online training program for individuals who work with sex offenders.

DEFINITION

Revised the definition of 'residence' to exclude temporary structures, vehicles, and unimproved real property.

Added definitions for 'secondary residence' and clarified rules regarding online identifiers and passwords.

ENFORCEMENT

Established a legal presumption that courts must issue arrest warrants instead of summons for sex offenders who violate the new monitoring program.

Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 18:03:382 → Amended 3/3/2026 18:03:382 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was restructured to introduce new oversight requirements for sex offenders, including a mandate for the Department of Public Safety to create a monitoring program for offenders unable to provide a residential address and to establish an online training program. The text also clarifies definitions for law enforcement entities and outlines specific responsibilities for sheriffs and local agencies in monitoring and arresting offenders.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new administrative duties for the Department of Public Safety regarding monitoring programs and training, while clarifying the roles of various law enforcement entities.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Department of Public Safety to create a monitoring program for sex offenders who cannot provide a residential address.

Added a requirement for the department to develop and provide an online training program for individuals working with sex offenders.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'law enforcement interlocal entity', 'law enforcement special district', and 'municipal law enforcement agency'.

Modified the definition of 'county of the first class' to clarify its classification under existing state law.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions requiring courts to issue arrest warrants for certain sex offenders if probable cause is found.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 3/3/2026 18:03:382 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill adds a new monitoring program for sex offenders who cannot provide a residential address, requiring GPS tracking and potential arrest warrants. It also clarifies that municipal law enforcement agencies in first-class counties must accept monitoring responsibility for these offenders, and it strengthens the legal presumption for issuing arrest warrants instead of summonses for sex offender violations.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of monitoring to include sex offenders without a fixed residence and clarifies the jurisdictional responsibilities of local law enforcement agencies.

REQUIREMENT

A new monitoring program is established for sex offenders unable to provide a residential address, mandating GPS-based location tracking.

ENFORCEMENT

A legal presumption is created to favor issuing arrest warrants over summonses for sex offenders who violate monitoring or registration requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Municipal law enforcement agencies located in first-class counties are now explicitly required to accept monitoring oversight for sex offenders within their jurisdiction.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'residence' was updated to exclude temporary structures, vehicles, and unimproved real property.

Introduced → Enrolled · 8 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands oversight of sex offenders in Utah by creating a new monitoring program for those who cannot provide a residential address and establishing automated arrest warrant requests for registry violations. It shifts enforcement responsibilities to local law enforcement and probation agencies, mandates GPS tracking for unregistered offenders, and increases penalties for non-compliance. The legislation also updates the list of registrable offenses and clarifies the roles of various state agencies in managing the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of oversight to include sex offenders who previously might have avoided registration by lacking a fixed address, and it broadens the entities responsible for monitoring and enforcement to include local law enforcement and the Division of Adult Probation and Parole.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new monitoring program requiring GPS-based tracking for sex offenders who cannot provide a residential address.

Added a requirement for sex offenders to pay annual fees to the Department of Public Safety, with fees increasing starting July 1, 2026.

Mandated that the Department of Public Safety provide online training for individuals who work with sex offenders.

ENFORCEMENT

Established an automated system for courts to issue arrest warrants when sex offenders violate registry requirements.

Increased criminal penalties for failing to register or comply with monitoring, raising the minimum incarceration term to at least 30 days for felony and misdemeanor violations.

DEFINITION

Defined new terms including 'dynamic factors,' 'static factors,' and 'multi-domain assessment' to guide risk evaluations.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of registrable offenses to include specific violent felonies and threats against judges and parole board members.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date for the new monitoring program and fee increases to May 6, 2026.

Sex Offender Oversight Amendments

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