SB 156 Utah Senate · 2026 General Session

Constable Amendments

SB 156 amends Utah Code Section 17-78-603 to allow constables to offer individuals a payment schedule instead of seizing their property for unpaid debts. This directly affects constables (county-appointed officers enforcing warrants and collecting debts) and individuals who owe money to a county or court. The key change permits constables to establish agreed-upon payment plans as an alternative to immediate property seizure, as specified in the updated code section. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and makes only technical adjustments to existing law without appropriating funds.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

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 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Enrolled · 2 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MINOR

The bill updates the effective date of the legislation from February 10, 2026, to March 11, 2026, and includes minor formatting adjustments to the text. No substantive policy changes, such as new powers for constables, funding shifts, or eligibility criteria modifications, were made in this version.

Scope change

No change in scope or applicability; the bill's operational provisions remain identical to the previous version.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the bill was changed from February 10, 2026, to March 11, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the text layout.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2026 · House Mar 7, 2026

How they voted

24–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 29

Feb 17, 2026

D Democratic6

5 Yea 1

83% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

18 Yea 4

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 18, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

upper

Mar 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

upper

Mar 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

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

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor