HB 553 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Dog Attack Amendments

HB 553 amends Utah's dog injury laws to allow individuals injured by dog attacks to file claims for damages within four years of the injury, extending the previous deadline. It increases the maximum award for bodily injury claims from $50,000 to $75,000 in both arbitration and court trials, excluding certain costs. The bill makes technical adjustments to existing statutes governing liability and arbitration procedures for dog attack cases. These changes directly affect victims seeking compensation and dog owners facing liability claims under Utah law.

Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Failed

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Amended Excerpts 3/5/2026 16:03:147 → Amended 3/5/2026 16:03:147 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends Utah's dog attack liability laws by extending the statute of limitations for filing claims from two to four years, establishing a new exemption for livestock guardian dogs that are provoked while working, and increasing the maximum arbitration award cap from $50,000 to $75,000.

Scope change

The bill expands the time window for victims to seek legal action and adds a specific legal protection for livestock guardian dogs engaged in herding or guarding duties.

TIMELINE

Extended the time limit for filing a dog attack injury claim from two years to four years after the injury occurs.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption stating dog owners are not liable for injuries caused by livestock guardian dogs that were provoked while actively herding or guarding livestock on grazing land.

FISCAL

Increased the maximum monetary award cap for dog attack arbitration and trial claims from $50,000 to $75,000.

Floor votes · House Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

31–38

Failed · 6 other

Total votes 75

Mar 2, 2026

D Democratic14

14 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican61

17 Yea 38 Nay 6

62% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 2, 2026

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (31-38-6)

house

Mar 2, 2026

Introduced

House/ floor amendment

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors