Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Amendments

Added a mandatory consultation requirement where officers must speak with a senior officer before declining to seek a search warrant for testing in fatal accidents lacking probable cause.

Modified the enforcement mechanism for fatal accidents by adding a procedural step (senior officer consultation) that must occur before an officer can decide not to pursue a warrant.

Changed the effective date of the bill from May 6, 2026, to May 6, 2026, with a minor update to the document timestamp.

Law enforcement must now seek a search warrant to test drivers for drugs or alcohol after fatal accidents, rather than relying solely on implied consent.

The warrant requirement applies specifically to accidents involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, a vehicle and an object, or multiple vehicles.

Chemical tests under the new warrant requirement must be blood tests and administered within 24 hours of the accident if possible.

Implied consent alone is no longer sufficient to authorize testing in fatal accident scenarios; voluntary consent or a court warrant is now required.

The bill includes a specific effective date of May 6, 2026.

Replaced 'grounds to believe' with 'reasonable suspicion' as the standard for directing a chemical test.

Changed the standard for refusing a test from 'refusal' to 'refusal by an individual' to clarify who is making the decision.

Updated the warning language to specify that refusal may result in a five-year or 10-year prohibition of driving with any measurable amount of alcohol.

Replaced 'arrest' with 'individual' in the context of requesting a chemical test, broadening the language to cover situations where an individual is not formally arrested.

Added a new requirement for peace officers investigating fatal accidents to consult with a senior officer before declining to seek a search warrant if probable cause is insufficient.

Updated the report submission deadline to 10 calendar days after notice is provided under Subsection (2)(b).

Set the effective date of the bill to May 6, 2026.

Updated the Senate amendment date from February 25, 2026, to February 5, 2026, and changed the version label from '3rd Reading' to 'Committee'.

Adjusted line numbering and text formatting in the peace officer reporting section to remove an extraneous character, ensuring the requirement for submitting a signed report within 10 days remains clear.

Corrected a text insertion error in Subsection (2)(c) to ensure the requirement for peace officers to submit a signed report within 10 days is properly formatted and readable.

Added a requirement for peace officers investigating fatal accidents to review facts with a senior officer before declining to seek a warrant for a chemical test.

Expanded the definition of fatal accidents triggering the warrant requirement to include collisions involving vehicles and objects.

Reduced the mandatory prohibition period for driving without an ignition interlock device from three years to two years for drivers who refuse a chemical test.

Corrected the House Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Steve Eliason' and updated the bill's effective date to May 6, 2026.