Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 134: Offender Transfer Amendments

HB 134 amends Utah's laws governing the transfer of probation or parole supervision between states under the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. It changes the fee for individuals seeking such transfers, requires that offenders must first be under Utah's supervision before applying, and mandates courts or the Board of Pardons and Parole to report arrest warrants for offenders supervised in other states to the National Crime Information Center. The bill also merges two existing reporting requirements for the Bureau of Criminal Identification and repeals one outdated section. These changes directly affect individuals on probation or parole transferring supervision, Utah's Division of Adult Probation and Parole, and state courts handling related warrants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends inter-state offender transfer protocols to improve supervision coordination and tracking via NCIC, reducing recidivism risks through better oversight and reporting requirements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 139: Female Genital Mutilation Amendments

HB 139 removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting female genital mutilation (FGM), meaning prosecutors can pursue cases at any time regardless of when the offense occurred. It also repeals a requirement for the Department of Health and Human Services to create a community education program about FGM. The bill directly affects individuals who commit FGM and law enforcement by changing how these cases can be prosecuted. These changes amend Utah Code Section 76-1-301 to include FGM under offenses with no time limit for prosecution and remove the education program mandate. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves statute of limitations for FGM prosecutions, enabling continued accountability under criminal justice enforcement.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 89: Use of Polygraph Amendments

HB 89 prohibits law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts in Utah from requiring victims of sexual offenses to take polygraph exams during criminal investigations or prosecutions. The bill explicitly states that victims cannot be forced to undergo such exams, and their refusal cannot block an investigation or case from moving forward. It defines "polygraph examination" as any lie detector test measuring physiological responses to assess truthfulness. This law directly affects sexual offense victims in Utah by protecting them from potentially retraumatizing interrogation tactics during criminal proceedings. The policy change takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits forced polygraph exams for sexual offense victims, protecting civil rights and reducing victim coercion in criminal investigations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments

HB 94 allows Utah defendants who owe court costs or fees (but not restitution payments) to reduce those amounts by completing court-ordered treatment or compensatory service. The bill increases the credit rate for compensatory service from $10 to $12 per hour and requires defendants to prove financial hardship and provide documentation of completed service or treatment. It applies only to non-restitution fees, such as court costs or fines, and does not affect restitution payments. This change aims to provide flexibility for defendants facing financial hardship while maintaining accountability for non-restitution obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces non-restitution fees via treatment/service completion, promoting rehabilitation and reducing financial barriers - core criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 110: Offender Modifications

HB 110 modifies Utah's Board of Pardons and Parole procedures to clarify how the board handles parole and pardon decisions. It requires the board to notify law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and victims about hearings; prohibits considering prison capacity or bed availability when deciding parole; and mandates offenders complete required treatment programs before parole. The bill also sets specific time limits for sex offenders seeking pardons (10 years for 10-year registrations, 20 years for lifetime registrations) and bars re-paroling offenders charged with violent felonies during prior parole. Additionally, it restricts offenders from reproducing victim statements while requiring them to view such statements in designated locations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates treatment completion before parole, prohibits prison capacity considerations, and requires victim notification - aligning with rehabilitation-focused reform and victim protections in criminal justice.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 102: Victim Privacy Amendments

HB 102, the Victim Privacy Amendments, protects crime victims' identities in Utah's public criminal justice records. It allows victims to request using initials instead of their full name in documents like court filings under certain circumstances. The bill also creates a searchable database of victim names (accessible only via court order) and classifies this database as a protected record under Utah's Government Records Access Act. These changes directly affect individuals involved in criminal cases who seek to limit public disclosure of their personal information.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects victims' identities in criminal records, enhancing privacy rights within judicial operations - a key aspect of victim-centered criminal justice reform.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 536: Criminal Conduct on Public Lands Amendments

HB 536 amends Utah laws to protect public lands and cultural sites by increasing penalties for damaging them. It specifically targets graffiti on natural and archaeological features and alters penalties for harming antiquities. The bill creates a "Public Lands Restoration and Protection Fund" managed by the State Historic Preservation Office, requiring courts to direct restitution from offenders to this fund for violations like graffiti damage or antiquities destruction on state lands. Funds will be used for site restoration, public education about protection laws, and anti-vandalism efforts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for graffiti and antiquities crimes, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases penalties for damaging natural features and creates a fund for restoration of public lands, directly protecting natural resources and cultural sites on state lands.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ 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