Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 113: Emergency Reporting Abuse Amendments

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for false 911 reports, expanding criminalization and enhancing punitive measures - opposes reform by strengthening punitive enforcement over rehabilitation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 536: Criminal Conduct on Public Lands Amendments

HB 536 amends Utah laws to protect public lands and cultural sites by increasing penalties for damaging them. It specifically targets graffiti on natural and archaeological features and alters penalties for harming antiquities. The bill creates a "Public Lands Restoration and Protection Fund" managed by the State Historic Preservation Office, requiring courts to direct restitution from offenders to this fund for violations like graffiti damage or antiquities destruction on state lands. Funds will be used for site restoration, public education about protection laws, and anti-vandalism efforts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for graffiti and antiquities crimes, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases penalties for damaging natural features and creates a fund for restoration of public lands, directly protecting natural resources and cultural sites on state lands.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 48: Criminal and Juvenile Justice Changes

HB 48 updates Utah's definitions and reporting requirements for recidivism in both adult and juvenile justice systems. It broadens how "recidivism" is measured to include misdemeanor arrests involving force (not just prison returns) and defines juvenile recidivism for data reporting. The bill removes the ban on placing minors in adult correctional facilities as an alternative to detention and allows prosecutors to request changes to where minors tried as adults are housed. These changes affect the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections, and juvenile justice programs by requiring updated data collection methods and reporting standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBroadens recidivism measurement to include misdemeanor arrests with force, improving data for reform efforts. Removes ban on minors in adult facilities but primary focus is enhanced data collection for justice system improvements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 454: Public Assistance Fraud Amendments

HB 454 creates a new criminal offense for individuals who knowingly help others submit inaccurate public assistance applications (e.g., by including false information or omitting required details). This directly affects people who assist applicants for programs like SNAP or Medicaid, making it a crime if they do so to help someone receive benefits they don’t qualify for. Penalties range from misdemeanors to felonies based on the value of the fraud (e.g., a second-degree felony for $5,000+ in benefits). The bill also adds this new offense to the list of crimes that can form part of a "pattern of unlawful activity" under Utah law. The changes amend existing Utah Code sections without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for aiding public assistance fraud, expanding criminalization (not reform) per bill's criminal penalty structure.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 495: Capital Felony Case Amendments

HB 495 amends Utah's legal procedures for capital felony cases (those carrying the death penalty), directly affecting defendants sentenced to death, their defense attorneys, and the courts handling these cases. Key provisions include requiring courts to inform defendants of appeal rights and postconviction relief options, mandating appointment of appellate counsel for death sentences, and establishing new procedures for determining intellectual disability to avoid death sentences. The bill also modifies the Utah Supreme Court's review process for death penalty cases, prioritizing these cases and requiring the Court to maintain a list of qualified defense attorneys for postconviction appeals. Additionally, it updates rules for competency evaluations, appeals of intellectual disability determinations, and execution procedures, while repealing outdated statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates appellate counsel for death sentences and intellectual disability procedures, strengthening defendant rights in capital cases per criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 284: Murder Offense Amendments

HB 284 amends Utah's murder statute to clarify that a person can be charged with murder under "depraved indifference" without needing specific intent to kill a particular individual. It expands the list of predicate offenses (like aggravated child abuse, kidnapping, or armed robbery) that can trigger murder charges when someone dies during or immediately after committing those acts. The bill also modifies sentencing by requiring courts to consider special mitigation or affirmative defenses (like reasonable belief of justification) that could reduce a murder conviction to manslaughter. This change directly affects individuals charged with murder under these specific circumstances, particularly in cases involving the listed predicate offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands murder charges to include 'depraved indifference' without specific intent and broadens predicate offenses, increasing criminalization and reducing defendant defenses.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 221: Coercion Amendments

HB 221 creates new criminal offenses for aiding or encouraging suicide (separating it from manslaughter) and splits sexual extortion into two distinct charges with added penalties. It adds sexual extortion and aggravated sexual extortion to the list of offenses considered domestic violence and requires mandatory fines for convictions of these specific crimes. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these coercive acts, altering how these offenses are charged, classified, and punished under Utah law. The changes modify multiple Utah Code sections related to criminal sentencing and sex offender registration.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds penalties for coercion crimes, expands criminalization, and mandates fines - increasing punitive measures without reform elements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 331: Criminal Offenses Modifications

HB 331 modifies Utah criminal law to clarify and expand certain offenses. It renames "threat of terrorism" to "terrorism" and clarifies the offense covers completed acts, not just threats. The bill creates new offenses including "unlawfully advancing foreign organizations" (e.g., aiding terrorist groups), "intentional concealment of identity" (e.g., wearing masks during crimes), and "unlawful deprivation of civil rights" (allowing victims to sue perpetrators). It also expands "aggravated disorderly conduct" to include blocking streets with two or more people. These changes directly affect individuals committing these specific criminal acts and apply to Utah state law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses (e.g., aiding terrorist groups, mask concealment) and expands terrorism laws to cover completed acts, increasing criminalization and penalties.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 72: Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments

SB 72 creates a new legal definition for "obscene animal abuse material" and makes distributing it a standalone criminal offense in Utah. The bill specifically adds "animal crushing" (graphic abuse of animals for sexual purposes) to the prohibited material, separating it from existing definitions of pornographic content. It requires that this material be treated identically to pornographic materials under Utah law for enforcement and penalties. The bill affects anyone distributing such material, with no budget impact or new funding required.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offense for animal abuse material distribution, directly aligning with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 265: Non-nicotine Inhalation Product Amendments

HB 265 requires businesses to register non-nicotine inhalation products and substances (primarily cannabinoid-based products like CBD vaporizers) and imposes civil penalties for selling unregistered items. It creates a new criminal offense for illegally distributing cannabinoid inhalation products while clarifying that cannabinoid products do not include electronic cigarettes. The bill defines key terms like "cannabinoid product" and "artificially derived cannabinoid" to distinguish legal products from restricted substances. This applies directly to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of these products in Utah, aiming to regulate the market under updated definitions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for illegal distribution of cannabinoid products, expanding criminalization.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice