HB 398 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Towing Dispatch Amendments

HB 398 updates regulations for towing dispatch vendors in Utah, directly affecting these vendors, tow truck motor carriers, and local agencies managing towing services. The bill requires dispatch technology to reduce delays, improve transparency in tow rotations, and enhance responder safety, while prohibiting vendors from also providing towing or impound services. It also establishes rules for removing carriers from dispatch lists and prevents individuals with financial interests in removed carriers from joining new lists under different entities. These changes amend existing Utah Code sections governing towing dispatch programs and local authority preemption.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates regulations for tow truck dispatch vendors to ensure technology improves efficiency and safety while preventing conflicts of interest. It clarifies how tow trucks are removed from dispatch lists and adds a coordination clause to ensure these specific rules take precedence over conflicting changes in another bill. The update also adjusts fee caps and timelines for recovering costs associated with abandoned vehicles.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on towing dispatch vendors and motor carriers, but it now explicitly includes a coordination clause to supersede conflicting provisions in S.B. 242, ensuring legal clarity if both bills pass.

DEFINITION

Added a coordination clause stating that amendments to Sections 53-1-106.2 and 72-9-604 in this bill supersede similar amendments in S.B. 242 if both become law.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the removal process for tow truck motor carriers to shift authority from the state department to individual towing entities, who now remove carriers from their specific rotations after department notification.

Added a prohibition preventing individuals with an interest in a removed tow truck motor carrier from joining a dispatch list with a new carrier to prevent conflicts of interest.

FISCAL

Modified the maximum fee a tow truck operator can charge to recover costs for abandoned vehicles, increasing the cap from 25% to 40% of the relevant dispatch fee.

TIMELINE

Adjusted the timeline for calculating and charging abandoned vehicle fees, with new rules effective January 1, 2025, and annual adjustments thereafter.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting errors and section numbering inconsistencies throughout the text to align with standard legislative structure.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules [House Rules Committee]

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules [House Transportation Committee]

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Not Considered [House Transportation Committee]

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Not Considered [House Transportation Committee]

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Transportation Committee]

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors