SB 125 Utah Senate · 2026 General Session

Theft Amendments

SB 125 amends Utah's theft of service law to clarify when prior convictions for theft, robbery, burglary, or fraud can increase penalties for stealing services like utilities, transportation, or accommodations. It specifically changes the rules for elevating theft of service to a third-degree felony (instead of a lesser charge) if the offender has two prior qualifying convictions within 10 years, or if the theft occurs on property where they were previously banned. The bill directly affects individuals committing service theft who have prior criminal records for specified offenses. It makes technical updates to the law without adding new funding or changing the core definition of theft of service. The changes take effect on May 6, 2026.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 23, 2026

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah theft laws to clarify when prior convictions for theft, robbery, or fraud can increase penalties for stealing services, and it makes technical corrections to retail theft definitions to ensure clarity on when the offense applies.

Scope change

The scope of enhanced penalties for theft of service was refined to explicitly include prior convictions for fraud and attempts to commit theft, robbery, or burglary within the last 10 years.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the criteria for enhanced penalties in theft of service to explicitly list 'any offense under Part 5, Fraud' and 'any attempt to commit' theft, robbery, or burglary as qualifying prior offenses.

DEFINITION

Clarified the definition of 'service' in theft of service to specify that utilities (gas, electricity, etc.) and telephone service are only considered theft if obtained through threat, force, or specific forms of deception.

TECHNICAL

Made technical corrections to the retail theft section to clarify circumstances under which the offense applies and ensure consistent language regarding prior convictions and property notices.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill's effective date from February 13, 2026, to February 27, 2026, likely to align with the legislative session calendar.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2026 · House Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

25–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 29

Feb 18, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

18 Yea 4

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent Calendar [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation [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 18, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor