Criminal Justice

passed both · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HJR 28: Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules Related to Capital Felony Cases

HJR 28 amends Utah court rules to create a new procedure for remanding non-capital felony appeals (cases without a death sentence) to trial courts. It allows defendants to request the appellate court send their case back for factual findings about claims of ineffective legal counsel, requiring specific evidence and limiting the process to 90 days. The bill explicitly excludes capital felony cases (with death sentences) from this remand process. This affects defendants in non-capital felony appeals challenging their attorneys' performance, providing a structured way to address incomplete records without changing the death penalty process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows defendants to seek factual findings on ineffective counsel claims in non-capital appeals, enhancing due process protections within criminal procedure.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 207: Competency Amendments

HB 207 amends Utah court procedures for competency evaluations of defendants in criminal cases. It requires courts to order multiple evaluations simultaneously if needed, allows the Department of Health to conduct additional evaluations under specific circumstances, and permits transferring defendants to clinical settings for evaluations. The bill clarifies reporting rules for progress toward competency and ensures involuntary medication orders remain valid during facility transfers. This procedural update affects defendants, courts, and the Department of Health, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies competency procedures to ensure fair trials and defendant rights, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of procedural fairness and proper judicial operations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed both · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HJR 4: Resolution Regarding Prison Security and Successful Inmate Reentry

This is a non-binding resolution (HJR 4) from Utah's legislature urging Congress to take specific actions on prison security and inmate reentry. It requests Congress to support the 2025 Second Chance Reauthorization Act (to restore funding for reentry programs), expand affordable health care access for incarcerated individuals before release, pass the 2025 Cell Phone Jamming Reform Act, criminalize drone flights over prisons, and allow pilot programs to mitigate drone threats. The resolution does not appropriate funds or create new state laws, but highlights federal policy gaps using statistics on recidivism, contraband cell phones, and drone incidents. It directly addresses Congress, not Utah residents or state agencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesResolution urges restoration of funding for reentry programs and healthcare access, aligning with funding essential services under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUrges funding for reentry programs (Second Chance Act), healthcare access pre-release, and drone security to reduce recidivism and improve inmate reentry outcomes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExplicitly urges expanding affordable healthcare access for incarcerated individuals before release, aligns with Medicaid support in subjects95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExplicitly requests passage of Cell Phone Jamming Reform Act and drone security measures to enhance prison cybersecurity, directly advancing technology regulation for security purposes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 188: Juvenile Justice Amendments

HB 188 amends Utah's juvenile justice laws to clarify procedures for handling student offenses on school grounds. It directly affects students (minors), schools, law enforcement, and juvenile courts by requiring schools to refer minors to law enforcement for drug offenses and updating eligibility for alternative resolutions (nonjudicial adjustments) in specific cases. Key provisions include defining terms like "school property" and "school-sponsored activity," changing notification requirements for school-based incidents, and repealing outdated reporting statutes. These changes standardize how schools and authorities respond to student misconduct while focusing on concrete policy updates to existing laws.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement referral for juvenile drug offenses, expanding criminalization. Updates alternative resolutions but referral requirement increases justice system involvement.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates school referrals to law enforcement for drug offenses, restricting school-based disciplinary alternatives and increasing juvenile justice involvement in K-12 settings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 142: Private Probation and Court Ordered Services Amendments

SB 142 regulates private probation and court-ordered service providers. It requires these providers to share certain defendant information with county sheriffs (while complying with HIPAA privacy rules), prohibits them from soliciting clients on court property, and mandates that providers conduct risk screenings and refer defendants needing specific assessments or treatment services. The bill directly affects private probation companies, county sheriffs overseeing compliance, and defendants under court supervision. Key mechanisms include standardized risk assessments, mandated referrals for specialized services, and strict privacy protections for defendant data.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates risk screenings and treatment referrals, aligning with rehabilitation-focused reform and improving oversight of private probation services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 80: Physician Practice Amendments

SB 80 clarifies that physicians do not commit unprofessional conduct by participating in the execution of a death sentence authorized under Utah law. The bill amends disciplinary rules to explicitly exclude such participation from professional misconduct definitions for physicians. It directly affects medical professionals who may be involved in capital punishment procedures. The bill makes a specific policy change to protect physicians from disciplinary action related to this role, without creating new programs or allocating funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly enables physician participation in executions, strengthening death penalty implementation within criminal justice sentencing procedures.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

passed both · Utah · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SJR 1: Joint Resolution Amending Rules of Evidence Concerning Crimes or Other Acts

SJR 1 amends Utah's Rules of Evidence to allow courts to admit evidence of prior similar child molestation or sexual assault acts in criminal cases involving those specific offenses. It permits prosecutors to present evidence of past child molestation (including sexual exploitation of minors) or prior sexual assaults to show a defendant's propensity, provided they give the defendant reasonable notice before trial. This change directly affects defendants in criminal cases accused of child molestation (involving children under 14) or sexual assault. The amendment does not alter other evidence rules but specifies new procedures for disclosure and admissibility in these limited cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows prior similar acts evidence in child molestation cases, aiding prosecution of repeat offenders while requiring defendant notice - strengthens case handling in sexual assault trials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 455: Peace Officer and Dispatcher Standards Amendments

HB 455 allows peace officer and dispatcher applicants in Utah with expunged or dismissed criminal convictions to enter training programs and take certification exams under specific conditions. It directly affects individuals seeking these public safety roles who previously faced automatic disqualification due to cleared records. Key conditions include: no violent felony or sexual offense convictions, a minimum 10-year waiting period since conviction, and meeting other standard requirements like background checks. The bill amends Utah Code sections 53-6-203 and 53-6-302 to update eligibility standards for these positions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves automatic disqualification for expunged/discharged applicants in law enforcement, promoting rehabilitation and expanding public safety workforce inclusivity while maintaining safety safeguards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 588: Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Amendments

HB 588 requires Utah's Office of American Indian-Alaska Native Health and Family Services to create mandatory training for peace officers investigating missing or murdered Indigenous individuals. The training curriculum must cover tribal sovereignty principles, relevant federal/state/tribal laws, methods for gathering accurate tribal affiliation information, coordination with family members, and best practices for interviewing families. This bill directly affects law enforcement officers conducting such investigations and aims to improve investigative approaches through culturally informed practices. The training must be reviewed and updated at least every three years, with the bill taking effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement training on tribal sovereignty, cultural competency, and victim coordination in missing/murdered Indigenous cases, enhancing accountability and reform in criminal justice practices.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 593: Bail Amendments

HB 593 amends Utah's bail procedures to improve pretrial release decisions. It requires jail staff to collect detailed information - including residential address, financial circumstances, community ties, and lethality assessments - when individuals are arrested without a warrant and booked. The bill also establishes new criteria for jail officials to release people on their own recognizance (without bail), prohibiting release for certain offenses like violent felonies, domestic violence, or recent bookings. These changes apply directly to arrested individuals, courts, and jail staff, aiming to inform release decisions with more comprehensive data while maintaining court oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends bail procedures to require detailed assessments for pretrial release, aiming to reduce unnecessary detention and improve public safety through evidence-based decisions, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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