SB 19 Utah Senate · 2026 General Session

Digital Evidence Amendments

SB 19 requires cities (first/second class or third class with 40,000+ residents) and certain counties to ensure access to digital evidence examination by July 1, 2026. Jurisdictions must either establish their own digital forensics lab, form a partnership for shared access (excluding the Regional Computer Forensics Lab), have their law enforcement agency staff the regional lab for 2,000+ hours yearly, or pay annual fees to the Department of Public Safety. Fees range from $5,000 for smaller cities to $50,000 for large counties, based on population and classification, with proceeds funding the regional lab’s staffing and costs. The bill mandates annual fee collection, reporting of non-payers to a legislative committee, and defines key terms like "digital forensics laboratory" and "participating agency."

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 · 1 edit · Mar 23, 2026

MINOR

The bill text was updated to reflect a new timestamp, changing the recorded time from February 29, 2026, to February 23, 2026. No substantive policy changes, such as new definitions, funding amounts, or operational requirements, were added or removed.

TECHNICAL

Updated the timestamp at the bottom of the document from 2-29-26 2:48 PM to 2-23-26 11:41 AM.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 4, 2026 · House Feb 19, 2026

How they voted

26–1

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 29

Feb 4, 2026

D Democratic6

4 Yea 1 Nay 1

66% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

21 Yea 1

95% 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 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor