Criminal Justice

introduced · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 237: Stalking Amendments

HB 237 amends Utah's stalking law to strengthen protections for victims and increase penalties for offenders. It specifically adds a second-degree felony penalty when an offender unlawfully enters a victim's dwelling during stalking, and clarifies definitions like "course of conduct" to include digital harassment (e.g., texts, social media). The bill directly affects stalking victims and individuals convicted of stalking, making unlawful dwelling entry a more severe offense. These changes update existing statutes without new funding or broad procedural shifts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens victim protections and increases penalties for stalking offenses, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to enhance safety and accountability.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyClarifies digital harassment (texts/social media) as stalking, strengthening victim protections under data privacy/digital rights laws.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Social Media

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 274: Sentencing Amendments

HB 274 amends Utah's sentencing structure by changing the membership of the Sentencing Commission and updating its responsibilities. The bill requires the Commission to consider specific factors - like public safety, rehabilitation, and risk reduction - when setting adult sentencing and supervision guidelines, directly affecting courts, offenders, and correctional systems. Key provisions include adding new member roles (e.g., prosecutors, sheriffs, victim services representatives), mandating a full review of sentencing guidelines by November 2026, and requiring guidelines to address probation/parole violations and incentives. It makes technical updates to existing statutes (63M-7-401.2, 63M-7-404.3, and 76-3-201) without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates Sentencing Commission to prioritize rehabilitation and risk reduction in guidelines, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 94: Inmate Financial Literacy Amendments

SB 94 requires Utah's Department of Corrections to offer an optional financial literacy class to all inmates. The class must teach strategies for saving and managing money earned through employment, including income earned while incarcerated. This applies directly to every inmate in Utah state correctional facilities. The bill amends existing law (Utah Code 64-13-48) to add this specific requirement, building on current educational program mandates without additional funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates financial literacy education for inmates to improve post-release financial management, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through correctional programming.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 182: Attorney Admission to Jail Facilities Amendments

SB 182 requires Utah county sheriffs to permit licensed attorneys to enter jails for client meetings under specific conditions. Attorneys must be licensed in good standing and inform the sheriff of their intent to meet a prisoner who is their current/former client, prospective client, or someone relevant to a criminal case. Sheriffs must provide a private meeting space during standard hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding holidays), though special circumstances may allow exceptions. The bill also allows sheriffs to designate staff to handle these requests and mandates public posting of designee contact details. This directly affects attorneys seeking jail access and sheriffs managing facility entry protocols.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures attorney-client access in jails, protecting defendant rights and facilitating fair criminal proceedings per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

Track

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 49: Law Enforcement Salary Amendments

HB 49 requires the salary ranges and pay progression for law enforcement officers in Utah's Division of Natural Resources (DNR) to match those of peace officers in the Department of Public Safety, with similar experience and qualifications. This directly affects DNR law enforcement officers, ensuring their compensation aligns with comparable state law enforcement roles. The bill includes an exception allowing DNR leadership (majors and division directors) to have lower salary ranges than other division directors within the department. It makes technical updates to Utah Code Section 63A-17-110 and takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAligns law enforcement salaries with comparable roles, supporting officer retention and effectiveness within the criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAligns DNR law enforcement salaries with comparable peace officers, ensuring fair compensation for state workers in this role per bill's explicit wage-matching requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

passed both · Utah · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SJR 1: Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Evidence Concerning Crimes or Other Acts

SJR 1 amends Utah's Rules of Evidence to allow courts to admit evidence of prior similar child molestation or sexual assault acts in criminal cases involving those specific offenses. It permits prosecutors to present evidence of past child molestation (including sexual exploitation of minors) or prior sexual assaults to show a defendant's propensity, provided they give the defendant reasonable notice before trial. This change directly affects defendants in criminal cases accused of child molestation (involving children under 14) or sexual assault. The amendment does not alter other evidence rules but specifies new procedures for disclosure and admissibility in these limited cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows prior similar acts evidence in child molestation cases, aiding prosecution of repeat offenders while requiring defendant notice - strengthens case handling in sexual assault trials.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

Track

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 70: Correctional Health Services Amendments

HB 70 requires Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to implement a new electronic health record system for inmate care by 2026, based on a working group's recommendations. It makes funds for unexpected high-cost correctional health care non-lapsing (meaning they won't expire if unused), and mandates a treatment plan for all inmates with substance use disorders, including medication-based treatment. The bill also sets accreditation standards for correctional health facilities and allows parole boards to consider health examiner reports when deciding parole conditions. These changes directly affect inmates in Utah's correctional facilities, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Corrections.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates substance use treatment plans and accreditation standards for correctional health, advancing rehabilitation and facility standards within criminal justice reform.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates substance use treatment plans, ensures non-lapsing funds for care, and sets accreditation standards for correctional health facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 91: Presumption of Indigency Amendments

HB 91 creates a legal presumption that individuals are indigent ( eligible for free legal representation) if they are incarcerated for 10 or more consecutive days. This applies directly to people facing criminal charges who are currently held in jail, prison, or a similar facility. The bill requires courts to automatically treat these individuals as indigent without needing to assess their income, assets, or family circumstances under existing rules. It streamlines access to court-appointed defense counsel for this specific group of incarcerated defendants, while maintaining other existing criteria for indigency determinations. The law takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates indigent defense access for incarcerated individuals, removing financial barriers and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of fair representation and defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

Track

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 39: Prison and Jail Standards Amendments

HB 39 requires county sheriffs and Utah's Department of Corrections to implement independent oversight systems for all county jails and state correctional facilities. Specifically, it mandates that every county jail under a sheriff's jurisdiction must operate under independently administered standards and undergo regular independent inspections, with the same requirement applying to state facilities managed by the Department of Corrections. These provisions apply directly to county sheriffs, jail operators, and the Department of Corrections, adding new inspection requirements on top of existing standards. The bill makes technical updates to Utah law without appropriating new funds or creating new programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates independent oversight and inspections for correctional facilities, strengthening accountability and standards per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments

HB 94 allows Utah defendants who owe court costs or fees (but not restitution payments) to reduce those amounts by completing court-ordered treatment or compensatory service. The bill increases the credit rate for compensatory service from $10 to $12 per hour and requires defendants to prove financial hardship and provide documentation of completed service or treatment. It applies only to non-restitution fees, such as court costs or fines, and does not affect restitution payments. This change aims to provide flexibility for defendants facing financial hardship while maintaining accountability for non-restitution obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces non-restitution fees via treatment/service completion, promoting rehabilitation and reducing financial barriers - core criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights