HB 103 creates new criminal offenses in Utah for marrying minors (under 18), transporting minors for illegal marriages, and traveling to marry minors, all classified as third-degree felonies. It also moves existing offenses - such as parents unlawfully consenting to a minor's marriage, officiating underage marriages without authorization, and fraudulently posing as a parent or guardian - into the criminal code. The bill extends the statute of limitations for these crimes to 15 years after the minor turns 18, allowing prosecution even if the marriage occurred years earlier. Additionally, it invalidates marriages involving minors performed in other states or countries unless they meet Utah’s specific requirements, directly affecting minors, individuals involved in such marriages, and marriage officiants.
HB 110 modifies Utah's Board of Pardons and Parole procedures to clarify how the board handles parole and pardon decisions. It requires the board to notify law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and victims about hearings; prohibits considering prison capacity or bed availability when deciding parole; and mandates offenders complete required treatment programs before parole. The bill also sets specific time limits for sex offenders seeking pardons (10 years for 10-year registrations, 20 years for lifetime registrations) and bars re-paroling offenders charged with violent felonies during prior parole. Additionally, it restricts offenders from reproducing victim statements while requiring them to view such statements in designated locations.
HB 101 amends Utah's firearm background check laws by creating two specific exemptions. It exempts individuals from background checks when purchasing a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm if they have an approved application from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the past 30 days. It also clarifies that Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) do not need to conduct background checks when transferring firearms to another FFL. These changes directly affect firearm dealers, NFA applicants, and FFLs during specific transactions, while leaving general background check requirements for most firearm sales unchanged. The bill makes no changes to funding or other policy areas.
SB 45 repeals Utah's 2019 Kratom Consumer Protection Act and classifies alkaloids found in kratom as Schedule I controlled substances under state law. This change directly affects kratom users and businesses in Utah, removing previous regulatory protections and making kratom possession or sale illegal under state law. The bill amends Utah's controlled substances code to include kratom alkaloids in Schedule I, which prohibits use due to no accepted medical purpose and high abuse potential. This policy shift reverses prior regulations that allowed regulated sale and use of kratom products.
HB 52 allows Utah driver license and ID card applicants who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe to request a "Native American" notation on their license or ID. It specifies that applicants must provide accepted tribal documents (like a tribal ID card, certificate of Indian blood, or Bureau of Indian Affairs affidavit) as proof of enrollment. The notation may not identify a specific tribe or include additional personal details beyond the "Native American" label. This change applies to new applications and renewals starting July 1, 2026, with no new costs.
HB 123 clarifies that individuals convicted of certain sex, kidnapping, or child abuse offenses in another state must register on Utah's Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry if they would be required to register in the state where the crime occurred. The bill specifically requires out-of-state offenders to register for the same duration they would serve in the original jurisdiction (either 10 years or for life, depending on the offense). It makes no changes to existing registration periods or requirements for Utah convictions, only addressing the jurisdictional overlap for out-of-state offenses. This directly affects people convicted of specified crimes in other states who move to or reside in Utah.
HB 113 amends Utah's criminal code to strengthen penalties for falsely reporting emergencies to 911 or emergency services. It increases punishments for making false reports - ranging from misdemeanors for basic false calls to felonies if the report causes serious harm, death, or involves weapons of mass destruction. The bill also adds new penalties for repeated false reports about sex-designated changing rooms and requires offenders to reimburse costs for emergency responses they triggered. If passed, it would take effect on May 6, 2026, and coordinates with a related bill (S.B. 99) to align penalty structures.
HB 122 requires Utah correctional facilities to report the number of pregnant inmates and inmates who are parents of minor children. It extends postpartum recovery care to 12 weeks, prohibits restraints during this period without specific security justification, and increases social worker access from six to 12 weeks to help inmates arrange childcare, plan family reunification, and access substance abuse treatment if needed. The bill also clarifies that facilities must provide postpartum medical care for 12 weeks after childbirth. These changes directly affect pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals in Utah state prisons and county jails.
HB 102, the Victim Privacy Amendments, protects crime victims' identities in Utah's public criminal justice records. It allows victims to request using initials instead of their full name in documents like court filings under certain circumstances. The bill also creates a searchable database of victim names (accessible only via court order) and classifies this database as a protected record under Utah's Government Records Access Act. These changes directly affect individuals involved in criminal cases who seek to limit public disclosure of their personal information.
HB 473 moves Utah's Colorado River Authority from the governor's office to the Department of Natural Resources, streamlining oversight of Colorado River water management. The bill modifies how authority members are appointed, expands the authority's powers and duties, removes restrictions on the river commissioner's compensation, and repeals a restricted account. It also allocates $1.6 million in state funds for the authority's 2027 operations and capital needs. This bill directly affects the Colorado River Authority's structure, staffing, and management of water resources in Utah.
HB 540 requires Utah's Judicial Council to create a single online portal for all public court records, improving public access to case files and audio recordings of court proceedings. It also mandates the Judicial Council to establish rules for judicial financial disclosures and report findings to the Judiciary Interim Committee. The bill affects courts, judges, and the public by standardizing how court records are stored, accessed, and charged for, while clarifying which records remain private under existing law. It makes no changes to fees or funding, as no money is appropriated.
This concurrent resolution directs Utah's Public Employees' Benefit and Insurance Program (PEHP) to add hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatments for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms to its drug formulary. It specifically affects state employees covered by PEHP health plans, requiring the program to include these treatments in its approved medications. The resolution does not address "black box" warnings but mandates PEHP to cover HRT for symptom relief. As a procedural directive, it guides an agency's existing policy without creating new law.
