SB 128 Utah Senate · 2026 General Session

Public Alert Amendments

SB 128 creates Utah's Purple Alert Notification System, administered by the Department of Public Safety, to help locate missing vulnerable adults (ages 18-60 with physical or mental impairments affecting daily life) and vulnerable minors (under 18 with impairments). The system activates when law enforcement confirms a missing person meets these criteria and Amber Alert requirements aren't met, using similar public notification methods as Amber Alerts but without triggering emergency broadcasts or disclosing medical diagnoses. It specifically excludes individuals with dementia from the "vulnerable adult" definition. The system will be implemented starting January 1, 2027, with rules to govern alert requests, activation, duration, and cancellation.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 23, 2026

MODERATE

The bill adds a new Purple Alert system for missing vulnerable individuals, creating a specific protocol to be used when Amber Alert criteria are not met. It establishes clear criteria for law enforcement to request an alert and mandates that the alert avoid revealing specific medical diagnoses or using the Emergency Alert System. The effective date was updated from February 2026 to June 2026, and the text was finalized for the enrolled version.

Scope change

The bill introduces a new legislative scope by creating a specific 'Purple Alert' system for vulnerable individuals, distinct from the existing Amber Alert system for minors.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new Purple Alert Notification System with specific criteria for activation, including a requirement that Amber Alert criteria must not be met for vulnerable minors.

Added restrictions prohibiting the use of the Emergency Alert System and the disclosure of specific medical diagnoses in Purple Alerts.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the bill from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

Updated the timestamp metadata to reflect the final enrolled version of the bill.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

24–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 29

Feb 17, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

17 Yea 5

77% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact [House Rules Committee]

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor