HB 114 Utah House · 2026 General Session

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.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill separates the crime of performing or directing adult-oriented content in public from the broader crime of distributing pornographic material, creating a new standalone offense. It also establishes new crimes for adults who encourage minors to perform such content or to engage in harmful performances in front of other minors. Additionally, the bill increases penalties for distributing material harmful to minors when the actor has a prior conviction.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal liability by creating specific offenses for 'unlawful pornographic performance' and 'aiding or abetting a minor' in such performances, which were previously lumped into other distribution charges. It also broadens the definition of 'pornographic material' on school property to include material that is harmful to minors.

SCOPE

Created a new standalone offense for presenting or directing a pornographic performance in public, removing this conduct from the general 'distributing pornographic material' charge.

Created new standalone offenses for adults who solicit, encourage, or aid minors in performing pornographic acts or in performing harmful acts in front of other minors.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the mental state requirement for engaging in a performance harmful to minors while a minor is present from 'knowingly' to 'recklessly'.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased penalties for distributing material harmful to minors for repeat offenders, raising the minimum fine to $5,000 and minimum jail time to one year.

DEFINITION

Added 'unlawful pornographic performance' and related aiding/abetting acts to the list of crimes that constitute a 'pattern of unlawful activity' for civil forfeiture purposes.

TECHNICAL

Added a coordination clause to merge changes to Section 76-5c-205 if this bill and a companion Senate bill both pass.

Floor votes · House Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Government Operations Committee]

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Government Operations Committee]

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Government Operations Committee]

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor