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competency evaluations, appeals of intellectual disability determinations, and execution procedures, while repealing outdated statutes.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 Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 261: Electronic Information Privacy Act Amendments

HB 261 amends Utah's Electronic Information Privacy Act to clarify how law enforcement agencies may access electronic data. It requires warrants for most electronic information, location data, or transmitted data during criminal investigations, directly affecting law enforcement agencies and service providers like phone companies. Key provisions prohibit law enforcement from outsourcing data collection to third parties in ways they couldn’t do themselves, and mandate that illegally obtained data - or evidence derived from it - be excluded from court, similar to constitutional violations. The bill updates definitions and procedures without appropriating new funds or creating new financial obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires warrants for law enforcement data access, protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability in criminal justice operations.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires warrants for law enforcement data access, strengthens privacy protections under EIPA amendments, directly advancing data privacy safeguards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 370: Sex Offender Oversight Amendments

HB 370 strengthens oversight of the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry by clarifying definitions and assigning specific monitoring duties to local law enforcement and the Division of Adult Probation and Parole. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to create a monitoring program for sex offenders who cannot provide a residential address and to establish an online training program for those who work with offenders. It also mandates that courts issue arrest warrants for certain offenders upon finding probable cause, while creating criminal penalties for failing to comply with the new monitoring requirements. These changes aim to improve tracking and supervision of registered sex offenders through updated legal responsibilities and enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens oversight of offender registries and clarifies monitoring duties, enhancing public safety and law enforcement accountability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 289: Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments

HB 289 updates Utah's laws regarding child sexual abuse material to address AI-generated content. It defines "apparent child sexual abuse material" as AI-created images that realistically depict minors, creating new standalone offenses for possessing or distributing such material. The bill also defines "obscene child sexual abuse material" and amends existing definitions to exclude artificially generated content from the main "child sexual abuse material" category. These changes specifically target individuals who create, distribute, or possess AI-generated images that appear to show minors, while removing AI content from the primary legal definition. The bill amends multiple Utah code sections without appropriating funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new offenses for AI-generated CSAM, strengthening legal framework against child exploitation per law enforcement and criminal justice subjects.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI-generated images depicting minors by creating new offenses, limiting a specific technology application under criminal law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 354: Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments

HB 354 creates a new criminal offense for damaging or interfering with public emergency alert devices designed to notify law enforcement during emergencies and help locate individuals needing assistance. The bill defines "rescue tracking equipment" as public devices that alert authorities and track locations for emergency response, and prohibits destroying, disabling, or tampering with them if it hinders their function. Violations are classified as class B misdemeanors, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or fines. This law directly affects anyone who intentionally damages or disrupts these emergency devices, ensuring they remain functional for life-saving assistance. The bill amends Utah Code Section 76-6-106.4 and takes effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new offense to protect emergency response devices used by law enforcement, strengthening public safety infrastructure within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 230: Offender Amendments

HB 230 requires Utah county jails to help inmates serving six months or more obtain driver’s licenses or state ID cards before release, including coordinating with the Driver License Division and providing payment vouchers. It also mandates substance abuse treatment programs to share drug test results with probation/parole officers when inmates provide written consent, and directs the Department of Corrections to provide post-release housing resources, a secure online tool for attorney communications, and annual data on inmate incentives. The bill adds requirements for tracking parole housing and updates health information disclosure rules for probationers. These provisions directly affect inmates, county jails, probation/parole officers, and state correctional agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires post-release support (driver's licenses, housing, treatment coordination) to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 184: Justice System Amendments

SB 184 allows Utah courts to reduce a defendant's recorded conviction to a lower offense degree under specific conditions. It applies to defendants who meet criteria such as providing substantial assistance in criminal investigations within one year of sentencing, successfully completing probation/parole or a rehabilitation program, or waiting five years without new offenses. Key requirements include prosecutor consent for violent felonies, no pending charges, and no current incarceration. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 76-3-402 to establish these pathways while maintaining safeguards for serious offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows courts to reduce convictions for rehabilitation completion, aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism and enhance rehabilitation programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice