HB 23 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Service Animal Amendments

HB 23 requires Utah's Division of Corporations and Commercial Code to publish on its public website the contact details and website link of the state's designated protection and advocacy agency for service animal laws. This agency helps people understand existing rules about service animals in public spaces, such as restaurants or stores. The bill does not change service animal laws or create new requirements; it only makes information about existing resources more accessible online. It directly affects the public, businesses, and service animal handlers seeking clarity on current regulations. The change takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed by removing a specific Senate sponsor and deleting an entire section that established criminal penalties and civil restitution for harming service animals. The remaining text now only requires the Division of Corporations to publish contact information for a public assistance agency, stripping away the bill's original enforcement and protection mechanisms.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a comprehensive amendment addressing both public information and criminal penalties for harming service animals to a limited provision solely regarding the publication of agency contact information.

ENFORCEMENT

Deleted Section 2, which defined 'service animal' and 'search and rescue dog,' and established criminal penalties (misdemeanors and felonies) for injuring, harassing, or endangering them.

Deleted provisions requiring restitution for veterinary and training costs incurred due to violations.

REMOVED

Removed the Senate Sponsor name (Todd Weiler) and updated the bill number prefix from 813 to 913.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date reference from '12-4-25' to '1-23-26'.

TECHNICAL

Updated the citation for the amending chapter from Chapter 173 to Chapter 378.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

27–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 29

Feb 27, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

20 Yea 2

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Feb 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Business and Labor Committee]

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Business and Labor Committee]

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor