SB 183 prohibits law enforcement officers or their agents from tampering with, repositioning, or disabling privately or commercially owned surveillance cameras without specific authorization. The law allows exceptions when the camera owner consents, a court issues a warrant beforehand, or during urgent emergencies - requiring officers to notify owners within 24 hours or obtain a court order as soon as possible after the emergency ends. This directly affects camera owners (including businesses and residents) and law enforcement agencies operating in Utah. The bill creates two new Utah Code sections (53-25-1201 and 53-25-1202) and excludes trail cameras from its provisions. It takes effect on May 6, 2026.
HB 158 amends Utah law to broaden protections against unauthorized tracking by renaming the offense to "unlawful use of a tracking device or tracking application." It makes it illegal to place trackers on personal property (excluding vehicles) or use tracking apps to monitor someone after they revoke consent, even if initial permission was given. The bill adds statutory damages for victims who choose this option over compensatory damages in civil cases. It includes exemptions for licensed private investigators (under specific conditions), parents tracking minors, caregivers for vulnerable adults, and law enforcement acting under court orders or official duties. The law applies directly to individuals using tracking technology and aims to strengthen privacy rights against persistent monitoring.
SB 67 prohibits law enforcement agencies from requiring peace officers to meet arrest or citation quotas and bans retaliation against officers for refusing such quotas. It requires the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to collect and annually report alleged violations to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee. The bill directly affects peace officers and local law enforcement agencies by preventing quota-based pressure and disciplinary actions. Key provisions include defining "impermissible quotas," mandating violation reporting, and amending existing statutes to align with this prohibition. The bill makes no financial changes and focuses solely on policy reforms to address alleged quota practices.
HB 162 allows certain Utah municipalities to impose a local sales tax specifically to fund infrastructure improvements for their local law enforcement agencies. It requires municipalities to hold a public hearing before approving the tax and mandates that all revenue be deposited into a separate special fund, not the general municipal fund. The bill also establishes procedures for reauthorizing the tax after its initial period and permits the State Tax Commission to retain a small administrative fee from collected revenue. This legislation modifies existing tax code provisions to create a structured framework for this targeted local funding mechanism, affecting only qualifying municipalities seeking to fund law enforcement infrastructure.
HB 134 amends Utah's laws governing the transfer of probation or parole supervision between states under the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. It changes the fee for individuals seeking such transfers, requires that offenders must first be under Utah's supervision before applying, and mandates courts or the Board of Pardons and Parole to report arrest warrants for offenders supervised in other states to the National Crime Information Center. The bill also merges two existing reporting requirements for the Bureau of Criminal Identification and repeals one outdated section. These changes directly affect individuals on probation or parole transferring supervision, Utah's Division of Adult Probation and Parole, and state courts handling related warrants.
HB 341 amends Utah's animal fighting laws to strengthen penalties for dog fighting, game fowl fighting, and attending such events. It clarifies that owning dog fighting equipment (like breaking sticks or treadmills) is evidence of intent to commit a crime, and creates new offenses for promoting or attending game fowl fights. The bill directly affects individuals who organize, participate in, or spectate dog or game fowl fights, including those allowing minors to attend. Penalties range from class B misdemeanors for first-time attendance or minor offenses to third-degree felonies for repeat dog fighting violations.
SB 218 requires all constables contracted by Utah cities or counties to hold a state-issued license starting January 1, 2027. It creates a Constables Licensing Board to set qualifications, handle disciplinary actions, and manage applications for constable, deputy constable, and apprentice constable licenses. The bill modifies how local governments contract with constables, including new selection processes and mandatory contract terms like insurance requirements and a four-year maximum term. State law now overrides local regulations regarding constable licensing and operations.
SB 125 amends Utah's theft of service law to clarify when prior convictions for theft, robbery, burglary, or fraud can increase penalties for stealing services like utilities, transportation, or accommodations. It specifically changes the rules for elevating theft of service to a third-degree felony (instead of a lesser charge) if the offender has two prior qualifying convictions within 10 years, or if the theft occurs on property where they were previously banned. The bill directly affects individuals committing service theft who have prior criminal records for specified offenses. It makes technical updates to the law without adding new funding or changing the core definition of theft of service. The changes take effect on May 6, 2026.
This is a non-binding resolution (HJR 4) from Utah's legislature urging Congress to take specific actions on prison security and inmate reentry. It requests Congress to support the 2025 Second Chance Reauthorization Act (to restore funding for reentry programs), expand affordable health care access for incarcerated individuals before release, pass the 2025 Cell Phone Jamming Reform Act, criminalize drone flights over prisons, and allow pilot programs to mitigate drone threats. The resolution does not appropriate funds or create new state laws, but highlights federal policy gaps using statistics on recidivism, contraband cell phones, and drone incidents. It directly addresses Congress, not Utah residents or state agencies.
This resolution expresses Utah's support for developing new technologies to help victims of human trafficking and domestic violence discreetly request assistance, particularly at transportation hubs like bus and train stations. It specifically highlights how traffickers often operate in such locations and suggests innovations like alert systems in public restrooms could allow victims to safely contact help without detection. The resolution does not create new programs or allocate funding but formally declares the state's backing for these technological solutions. It aims to encourage the development of tools addressing these critical safety issues without imposing new legal requirements.
