HB 547 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Transnational Repression Amendments

HB 547 defines "transnational repression" as foreign government or terrorist organization actions targeting individuals in Utah (like threats, surveillance, or immigration coercion) to control their behavior. It requires Utah's public universities to inform international students about this repression and how to report it to law enforcement. The bill also adds criminal penalties for crimes committed under foreign government direction to influence a victim's actions. This directly affects international students and victims of foreign-directed crimes, creating new reporting mechanisms and legal consequences for specific offenses.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Signed Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Enrolled · 2 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MINOR

The bill was updated to include a new cosponsor and revised the effective date from May 6, 2026, to March 11, 2026. The core policy content regarding the definition of transnational repression, higher education reporting requirements, and criminal penalty enhancements remains substantively unchanged.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability and policy requirements remains the same; only the procedural metadata and effective date were modified.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date was changed from May 6, 2026, to March 11, 2026, moving the implementation forward by approximately two months.

TECHNICAL

A new cosponsor, Jon Hawkins, was added to the bill's sponsorship list.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 7, 2026 · House Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

25–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 29

Mar 7, 2026

D Democratic6

4 Yea 2

66% 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 19, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

lower

Mar 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

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

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted/ Consent Calendar [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor