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

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Data Privacy

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 188: Juvenile Justice Amendments

HB 188 amends Utah's juvenile justice laws to clarify procedures for handling student offenses on school grounds. It directly affects students (minors), schools, law enforcement, and juvenile courts by requiring schools to refer minors to law enforcement for drug offenses and updating eligibility for alternative resolutions (nonjudicial adjustments) in specific cases. Key provisions include defining terms like "school property" and "school-sponsored activity," changing notification requirements for school-based incidents, and repealing outdated reporting statutes. These changes standardize how schools and authorities respond to student misconduct while focusing on concrete policy updates to existing laws.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement referral for juvenile drug offenses, expanding criminalization. Updates alternative resolutions but referral requirement increases justice system involvement.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates school referrals to law enforcement for drug offenses, restricting school-based disciplinary alternatives and increasing juvenile justice involvement in K-12 settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 92: Prosecution Amendments

SB 92 restricts prosecutors from charging defendants with additional offenses after a prior conviction related to bodily injury that later caused death. Specifically, it prohibits prosecuting a defendant for any offense other than homicide in a subsequent case where the death resulted from the same prior injury that was already prosecuted. This bill directly affects prosecutors and defendants in homicide cases stemming from previously charged bodily injury incidents. The key provision prevents multiple prosecutions for the same incident, ensuring a defendant cannot face new charges beyond homicide after the initial injury case concluded with a conviction, acquittal, or dismissal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents prosecutors from adding non-homicide charges for same injury causing death, reducing overcharging and aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting defendants from redundant prosecutions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 213: Criminal Proceedings Amendments

HB 213 sets specific deadlines for courts to schedule criminal trials after requests from defendants or victims. It requires trials to begin within 90 days for defendants in custody and 180 days for others (including victims) who file written requests. Courts may extend these deadlines only for limited reasons like case complexity, court backlog, or a defendant's requested continuance. The bill amends Utah law to clarify these timeframes and applies to all criminal cases in Utah courts, effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSets trial deadlines to reduce pretrial detention, advancing court efficiency and defendant rights per criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 86: Firearm Safe Harbor Amendments

SB 86 creates a temporary firearm safekeeping program allowing cohabitants or owners to voluntarily give firearms to law enforcement if they believe someone in the home poses an immediate threat (e.g., domestic violence situations). Law enforcement must hold firearms for 60 days (extendable by request) and return them to the owner unless the owner is a restricted person or subject to a domestic violence court order. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to anonymously report aggregate usage data (e.g., number of requests, firearms held) to the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice annually, starting July 1, 2026, with data collection sunsetting in 2028. This affects individuals seeking temporary firearm storage for safety during crises, without changing existing firearm ownership laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates firearm safekeeping program for domestic violence prevention, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce violence and enhance public safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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

introduced · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 254: Plea in Abeyance Amendments

HB 254 modifies Utah's plea in abeyance process for certain first-time offenders. It requires prosecutors to offer plea in abeyance to individuals under 18 charged with specific misdemeanors like retail theft, underage alcohol possession, or minor drug possession, provided they have no prior convictions. The bill also changes compensatory service rules, allowing defendants to perform community service (credited at $12/hour) instead of paying fines or fees for eligible offenses, with strict documentation requirements. These changes apply directly to defendants facing low-level criminal charges who meet the eligibility criteria. The bill makes no changes to victim restitution or court fees for certain offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires plea in abeyance for youth offenders, replaces fines with community service ($12/hr), reducing recidivism risk and financial burden on minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Victims' Rights

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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

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

in committee · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 136: Enforcement Activities Amendments

This Utah bill restricts state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities in sensitive locations (like schools or hospitals) or houses of worship, with limited exceptions for emergencies or facility owner requests. It also prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing opaque face coverings during official duties, except for tactical units, undercover operations, or if their agency has a publicly posted facial covering policy. Violations could result in a class C misdemeanor penalty for officers, unless their agency had a compliant policy in place. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to create and publish such policies to avoid criminal liability for officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement cooperation in sensitive locations to protect civil rights and mandates transparent officer identification, enhancing accountability in criminal justice operations.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRestricts state/local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities in sensitive locations, limiting cooperation with federal enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 205: Law Enforcement Artificial Intelligence Amendments

SB 205 requires Utah law enforcement agencies to publicly share policies governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including which AI systems officers may use and how they must be configured. It mandates that any police report or record created partly using AI must include a clear disclaimer and a certification that the content was reviewed for accuracy. Agencies must post their full AI policies and detailed information about AI settings - such as transparency features or crime-specific restrictions - on their websites or the state public notice site. This law directly affects all Utah police departments and sheriff's offices, ensuring transparency about AI use in investigations. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires AI transparency and accuracy certification in police reports, enhancing law enforcement accountability within criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates transparency, disclaimers, and accuracy reviews for AI in law enforcement, protecting data privacy and digital rights through accountability measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Artificial Intelligence

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