Criminal Justice

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 116: Criminal Fines Amendments

HB 116 increases mandatory fines for certain prostitution-related offenses in Utah. It raises the minimum fine for patronizing an adult sex worker or exploiting prostitution from $5,000 to $10,000 for repeat offenders, and clarifies that higher fines ($20,000 minimum) for offenses involving children only apply to offenders aged 18 or older. The bill also requires courts to mandate completion of an educational program about prostitution's harms for all convicted offenders. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of specific sex crime offenses under Utah law, with no new state funding required.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory fines for prostitution offenses, expanding criminalization and harsher penalties without reform elements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 34: Victim Rights Amendments

HB 34 updates Utah's victim rights complaint procedures by creating a coordinator role within the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. The coordinator receives and processes complaints about alleged violations of victim rights, forwards complaints to the appropriate judicial district committee, and ensures timely notifications to victims. Criminal justice agencies must now provide written policies for handling such complaints. This bill directly affects victims reporting rights violations, victim rights committees, and agencies like law enforcement, prosecutors, and corrections. No new funding is required for these administrative changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates coordinator for victim rights complaints, mandates agency policies, strengthens victim protections in criminal justice system90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 89: Use of Polygraph Amendments

HB 89 prohibits law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts in Utah from requiring victims of sexual offenses to take polygraph exams during criminal investigations or prosecutions. The bill explicitly states that victims cannot be forced to undergo such exams, and their refusal cannot block an investigation or case from moving forward. It defines "polygraph examination" as any lie detector test measuring physiological responses to assess truthfulness. This law directly affects sexual offense victims in Utah by protecting them from potentially retraumatizing interrogation tactics during criminal proceedings. The policy change takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits forced polygraph exams for sexual offense victims, protecting civil rights and reducing victim coercion in criminal investigations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 27: Assault or Threat of Violence Amendments

SB 27 amends Utah law to expand protections for peace officers and military service members against assault or threats of violence. It separates offenses into two distinct categories: one for peace officers (including off-duty officers and their families if the attack was due to their status) and another for military members (including off-duty members, those not in uniform, and their families under similar circumstances). The bill clarifies definitions, such as "family member" and "peace officer," and updates related code sections to reflect these changes. These amendments aim to strengthen legal safeguards for these groups without altering existing penalty structures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly expands legal protections for peace officers and military members, strengthening law enforcement safety and authority within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly expands legal protections for military service members (including veterans) against assault/threats, creating dedicated offense categories for their safety under 'Veterans and Military Affairs' subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 114: Adult-oriented Performance and Material Amendments

HB 114 reorganizes Utah's laws on adult performances and materials by creating new standalone criminal offenses. It moves conduct like presenting pornographic performances in public places, aiding minors in such performances, and harmful performances near minors into separate charges, rather than grouping them under existing "distributing material" offenses. Penalties now vary by the actor's age (third-degree felony for adults, misdemeanors for minors), with specific fines and jail terms. The bill clarifies existing prohibitions - such as on school property or harmful material - without introducing new restrictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offenses for adult performances/material, increasing penalties (3rd-degree felony for adults), aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanded criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 30: Human Trafficking, Exploitation, and Smuggling Amendments

SB 30 updates Utah's laws against human trafficking and smuggling by redefining key terms and strengthening criminal penalties. It creates new offenses targeting individuals who "patronize" victims of labor trafficking, child trafficking, or trafficking involving vulnerable adults, while removing certain legal defenses for traffickers. The bill also splits aggravated trafficking into separate labor and sexual exploitation offenses and incorporates updated definitions into relevant statutes. These changes directly affect victims of trafficking (by expanding protections) and individuals who exploit or profit from trafficking (by increasing criminal liability). The law makes no changes to funding or administrative procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal penalties for trafficking, creates new offenses against 'patronizers', and removes defenses for traffickers, directly advancing criminal justice enforcement against human trafficking.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 110: Offender Modifications

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates treatment completion before parole, prohibits prison capacity considerations, and requires victim notification - aligning with rehabilitation-focused reform and victim protections in criminal justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Probation & Parole

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 24: Criminal Penalty Amendments

HB 24 reduces penalties for several traffic violations in Utah. It changes school zone speeding (21-29 mph) from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction, and lowers careless driving penalties to an infraction. The bill also amends requirements for carrying proof of vehicle insurance (owner's or operator's security) when driving. These changes directly affect drivers convicted of these specific violations. The bill makes no new funding changes and focuses on adjusting penalty levels rather than creating new offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces penalties for minor traffic violations (e.g., school zone speeding), aligning with criminal justice reform by minimizing non-serious offenses' criminalization.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationReduces penalties for traffic violations (e.g., school zone speeding), weakening enforcement and safety standards within transportation safety framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

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

Tags Public Safety

signed · Utah · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 11: Dyed Diesel Fuel Search Amendments

HB 11 amends Utah’s law regarding searches for dyed diesel fuel violations. It clarifies that government officials (including law enforcement) may only inspect a vehicle’s fuel for such violations if they have probable cause, the vehicle owner’s consent, or are conducting a search at a port-of-entry. Crucially, the bill states that simply observing a diesel-powered vehicle on a highway does not create sufficient probable cause for an inspection. This change directly affects law enforcement officers and vehicle owners by setting clear limits on when fuel inspections can occur. The amendment does not alter the underlying prohibition on using dyed diesel on highways or the associated penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts unwarranted vehicle searches, requiring probable cause per constitutional standards, aligning with civil rights protections in criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement