Shelter Animal Euthanasia Amendments
SB 201 updates Utah's rules for euthanizing animals in shelters. It requires animal shelters (excluding private humane societies) to only euthanize dogs or cats if no reasonable alternatives exist, after waiting for holding periods and notifying other shelters/rescue groups. Shelters must wait two business days for transfer requests and three days for animal collection before euthanizing, unless the animal has a serious injury/disease or is deemed dangerous. The bill affects shelters managing unclaimed animals and aims to prioritize adoption or transfer over euthanasia. It takes effect May 6, 2026.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 27, 2026
Signed Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute #2
→
Enrolled
·
1 edit
·
Mar 25, 2026
MINOR
The bill text remains substantively identical between the two versions, with no changes to definitions, euthanasia requirements, or liability protections. The only difference is a timestamp update in the footer, changing the document's recorded time from March 2 to March 12, which indicates a procedural update rather than a policy change.
TECHNICAL
The document timestamp in the footer was updated from 3-2-26 1:22 PM to 3-12-26 10:08 AM, reflecting a procedural revision date.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Mar 6, 2026
How they voted
25–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 29
Mar 6, 2026
D
Democratic6
83% Yea
N
Forward1
100% Yea
R
Republican22
86% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
57
Key actions
12
Committee
8
Amendments
2
Mar 25, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Amended
House/ floor amendment failed
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact [House Rules Committee]
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Political Subdivisions Committee]
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Political Subdivisions Committee]
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Held [House Political Subdivisions Committee]
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Political Subdivisions Committee]
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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