Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 539: Public Safety Modifications

HB 539 amends Utah's public safety laws to strengthen protections for domestic violence victims and clarify legal procedures. It expands the definition of domestic violence offenses, clarifies the term "cohabitant" for victim mitigation, and modifies bail requirements for domestic violence cases. The bill also updates protective order rules, prohibits parents from waiving jail release conditions when a child is the alleged victim, and ensures individuals arrested for domestic violence can communicate with children in specific circumstances. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, defendants, law enforcement, and courts handling related cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens victim protections, clarifies domestic violence legal procedures, and updates court safeguards - directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 572: Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments

HB 572 updates Utah's behavioral and mental health systems to improve coordination and support. It requires standardized consent forms for disclosing mental health conditions to providers and law enforcement, mandates jail screening tool transparency, and shifts administration of the suicide prevention fund to a dedicated office. The bill creates a peer support specialist program, establishes a family outreach role for suicide/overdose cases, and amends involuntary commitment procedures. It appropriates $750,000 for implementation in fiscal year 2027, directly affecting justice-involved individuals, mental health providers, and families impacted by behavioral health crises.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill integrates mental health support into criminal justice system via jail screenings, peer specialists, and transparency mandates, aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism and improve rehabilitation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates peer support specialists, family outreach for overdoses, and shifts suicide prevention fund to dedicated office - expands mental health services and coordination.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 24: Criminal Penalty Amendments

HB 24 reduces penalties for several traffic violations in Utah. It changes school zone speeding (21-29 mph) from a class C misdemeanor to an infraction, and lowers careless driving penalties to an infraction. The bill also amends requirements for carrying proof of vehicle insurance (owner's or operator's security) when driving. These changes directly affect drivers convicted of these specific violations. The bill makes no new funding changes and focuses on adjusting penalty levels rather than creating new offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces penalties for minor traffic violations (e.g., school zone speeding), aligning with criminal justice reform by minimizing non-serious offenses' criminalization.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationReduces penalties for traffic violations (e.g., school zone speeding), weakening enforcement and safety standards within transportation safety framework.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 34: Victim Rights Amendments

HB 34 updates Utah's victim rights complaint procedures by creating a coordinator role within the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. The coordinator receives and processes complaints about alleged violations of victim rights, forwards complaints to the appropriate judicial district committee, and ensures timely notifications to victims. Criminal justice agencies must now provide written policies for handling such complaints. This bill directly affects victims reporting rights violations, victim rights committees, and agencies like law enforcement, prosecutors, and corrections. No new funding is required for these administrative changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates coordinator for victim rights complaints, mandates agency policies, strengthens victim protections in criminal justice system90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 48: Criminal and Juvenile Justice Changes

HB 48 updates Utah's definitions and reporting requirements for recidivism in both adult and juvenile justice systems. It broadens how "recidivism" is measured to include misdemeanor arrests involving force (not just prison returns) and defines juvenile recidivism for data reporting. The bill removes the ban on placing minors in adult correctional facilities as an alternative to detention and allows prosecutors to request changes to where minors tried as adults are housed. These changes affect the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections, and juvenile justice programs by requiring updated data collection methods and reporting standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBroadens recidivism measurement to include misdemeanor arrests with force, improving data for reform efforts. Removes ban on minors in adult facilities but primary focus is enhanced data collection for justice system improvements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 495: Capital Felony Case Amendments

HB 495 amends Utah's legal procedures for capital felony cases (those carrying the death penalty), directly affecting defendants sentenced to death, their defense attorneys, and the courts handling these cases. Key provisions include requiring courts to inform defendants of appeal rights and postconviction relief options, mandating appointment of appellate counsel for death sentences, and establishing new procedures for determining intellectual disability to avoid death sentences. The bill also modifies the Utah Supreme Court's review process for death penalty cases, prioritizing these cases and requiring the Court to maintain a list of qualified defense attorneys for postconviction appeals. Additionally, it updates rules for competency evaluations, appeals of intellectual disability determinations, and execution procedures, while repealing outdated statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates appellate counsel for death sentences and intellectual disability procedures, strengthening defendant rights in capital cases per criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 261: Electronic Information Privacy Act Amendments

HB 261 amends Utah's Electronic Information Privacy Act to clarify how law enforcement agencies may access electronic data. It requires warrants for most electronic information, location data, or transmitted data during criminal investigations, directly affecting law enforcement agencies and service providers like phone companies. Key provisions prohibit law enforcement from outsourcing data collection to third parties in ways they couldn’t do themselves, and mandate that illegally obtained data - or evidence derived from it - be excluded from court, similar to constitutional violations. The bill updates definitions and procedures without appropriating new funds or creating new financial obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires warrants for law enforcement data access, protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability in criminal justice operations.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires warrants for law enforcement data access, strengthens privacy protections under EIPA amendments, directly advancing data privacy safeguards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 289: Child Sexual Abuse Material Amendments

HB 289 updates Utah's laws regarding child sexual abuse material to address AI-generated content. It defines "apparent child sexual abuse material" as AI-created images that realistically depict minors, creating new standalone offenses for possessing or distributing such material. The bill also defines "obscene child sexual abuse material" and amends existing definitions to exclude artificially generated content from the main "child sexual abuse material" category. These changes specifically target individuals who create, distribute, or possess AI-generated images that appear to show minors, while removing AI content from the primary legal definition. The bill amends multiple Utah code sections without appropriating funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new offenses for AI-generated CSAM, strengthening legal framework against child exploitation per law enforcement and criminal justice subjects.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI-generated images depicting minors by creating new offenses, limiting a specific technology application under criminal law.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 354: Rescue Tracking Equipment Offense Amendments

HB 354 creates a new criminal offense for damaging or interfering with public emergency alert devices designed to notify law enforcement during emergencies and help locate individuals needing assistance. The bill defines "rescue tracking equipment" as public devices that alert authorities and track locations for emergency response, and prohibits destroying, disabling, or tampering with them if it hinders their function. Violations are classified as class B misdemeanors, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or fines. This law directly affects anyone who intentionally damages or disrupts these emergency devices, ensuring they remain functional for life-saving assistance. The bill amends Utah Code Section 76-6-106.4 and takes effect May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates new offense to protect emergency response devices used by law enforcement, strengthening public safety infrastructure within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 274: Sentencing Amendments

HB 274 amends Utah's sentencing structure by changing the membership of the Sentencing Commission and updating its responsibilities. The bill requires the Commission to consider specific factors - like public safety, rehabilitation, and risk reduction - when setting adult sentencing and supervision guidelines, directly affecting courts, offenders, and correctional systems. Key provisions include adding new member roles (e.g., prosecutors, sheriffs, victim services representatives), mandating a full review of sentencing guidelines by November 2026, and requiring guidelines to address probation/parole violations and incentives. It makes technical updates to existing statutes (63M-7-401.2, 63M-7-404.3, and 76-3-201) without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates Sentencing Commission to prioritize rehabilitation and risk reduction in guidelines, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice