Criminal Justice

passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 303: Expungement Amendments

SB 303 amends Utah's expungement law to adjust eligibility rules for removing criminal records. It specifically clarifies that individuals with criminal protective orders, stalking injunctions, or civil protective orders may still qualify for expungement, and changes numerical limits that previously disqualified some applicants based on the number of offenses. The bill maintains the requirement that applicants must pay all fines and restitution before expungement can be granted. This affects people with criminal records seeking to have those records removed from public view, including those with certain protective orders in place.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands expungement eligibility by removing barriers for protective order holders and adjusting offense limits, directly promoting criminal justice reform to reduce recidivism and aid rehabilitation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 302: Domestic Violence Amendments

SB 302 requires law enforcement officers to separately evaluate domestic violence complaints from opposing parties to identify the predominant physical aggressor before making arrests. If one person is determined the main aggressor, officers need not arrest the other alleged offender. The bill mandates that incident reports be provided to victims at no cost and that agencies forward reports to prosecutors within five days, while requiring a follow-up investigation within 48 hours if no arrest is made initially. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, domestic violence victims, and individuals accused of such offenses in cases involving mutual complaints.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents wrongful arrests by requiring separate evaluation of domestic violence complaints to identify primary aggressor, enhancing law enforcement accountability and victim protection.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 316: Public Employee Attorney Fee Recovery Amendments

SB 316 modifies Utah law to clarify when public employees (like police officers or government workers) can recover attorney fees and court costs after being charged criminally for actions related to their job. It requires prosecutors' offices (municipal, county, district, or state) to pay 50% of these fees if the employee is acquitted or charges are dismissed, with one key change: the exception for dismissals by prosecutors now only applies if the dismissal happens more than 45 days after a preliminary hearing. The bill specifically limits this exception to charges filed as "information" (not indictments) and ensures employees aren’t barred from recovery if charges are dismissed within that 45-day window. This affects public employees facing criminal charges tied to their official duties, making it easier to recover legal costs in certain cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures public employees (including law enforcement) recover 50% of attorney fees upon acquittal, protecting financial interests in job-related criminal cases.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies public employee attorney fee recovery upon acquittal, protecting workers from legal costs related to job duties.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 301: Summons Amendments

SB 301 amends criminal procedure rules regarding summons for defendants released from jail before trial. It directly affects defendants, prosecutors, and magistrates by changing when prosecutors can file charges (after 60 days of release) and modifying requirements for magistrates releasing defendants. The bill adds that a presumption favoring defendants' release can be overcome if the defendant fails to appear on a served summons or if good-faith service attempts fail. These changes clarify procedural timelines and service requirements for pretrial releases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates presumption favoring pretrial release, reducing unnecessary detention by requiring prosecutorial charge filing within 60 days and limiting magistrates' detention authority.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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failed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 262: Law Enforcement Usage of Unmarked Vehicles

SB 262 prohibits Utah law enforcement agencies from using unmarked vehicles for routine traffic enforcement, such as general patrol for traffic violations. It defines "unmarked law enforcement vehicle" as one lacking clear, visible markings from 25 feet and specifies that agencies may only use such vehicles for targeted operations like crosswalk safety, construction zones, DUI enforcement, stopped school buses, or documented community traffic issues. Exceptions also include compliance with existing state law (Section 41-1a-407). The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and has no fiscal impact.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits unmarked police vehicles for routine traffic stops to enhance transparency and accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing potential for abuse.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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failed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 105: Use of Force Amendments

SB 105 amends Utah's self-defense laws to limit when a person can claim justification for using force. It removes the defense if someone causes injury or death to an innocent person while using force against another individual, and denies pretrial hearings for defendants charged with reckless or negligent harm to others during such incidents. The bill specifically targets cases where the defendant’s claimed self-defense against one person results in unintended harm to a third party. These changes affect criminal defendants in Utah who attempt to use self-defense as a legal justification but are charged with causing harm to an unrelated individual. The amendments take effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts self-defense claims, denies pretrial hearings for third-party harm, reducing defendant rights in criminal justice cases.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 67: Law Enforcement Quota Amendments

SB 67 prohibits law enforcement agencies from requiring peace officers to meet arrest or citation quotas and bans retaliation against officers for refusing such quotas. It requires the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to collect and annually report alleged violations to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee. The bill directly affects peace officers and local law enforcement agencies by preventing quota-based pressure and disciplinary actions. Key provisions include defining "impermissible quotas," mandating violation reporting, and amending existing statutes to align with this prohibition. The bill makes no financial changes and focuses solely on policy reforms to address alleged quota practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits arrest/citation quotas and retaliation, enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights. Directly addresses a key reform issue in criminal justice.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 94: Inmate Financial Literacy Amendments

SB 94 requires Utah's Department of Corrections to offer an optional financial literacy class to all inmates. The class must teach strategies for saving and managing money earned through employment, including income earned while incarcerated. This applies directly to every inmate in Utah state correctional facilities. The bill amends existing law (Utah Code 64-13-48) to add this specific requirement, building on current educational program mandates without additional funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates financial literacy education for inmates to improve post-release financial management, directly supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through correctional programming.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 133: Offender Registry Amendments

SB 133 clarifies Utah's requirements for juvenile offenders on the sex, kidnap, and child abuse registry. It specifies that individuals under 18 who committed certain offenses (like sexual abuse or trafficking) without force or coercion and were under 21 at the time of the crime will only need to register for 10 years instead of for life. This amendment to Utah Code Section 53-29-203 directly affects young people convicted of specific crimes who would otherwise face lifetime registration. The change applies only to cases meeting all the specified criteria, not to all juvenile offenders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces lifetime sex offender registry requirements for juveniles convicted of specific crimes without force, aligning with criminal justice reform goals by promoting rehabilitation over lifelong stigma.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 205: Law Enforcement Artificial Intelligence Amendments

SB 205 requires Utah law enforcement agencies to publicly share policies governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including which AI systems officers may use and how they must be configured. It mandates that any police report or record created partly using AI must include a clear disclaimer and a certification that the content was reviewed for accuracy. Agencies must post their full AI policies and detailed information about AI settings - such as transparency features or crime-specific restrictions - on their websites or the state public notice site. This law directly affects all Utah police departments and sheriff's offices, ensuring transparency about AI use in investigations. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires AI transparency and accuracy certification in police reports, enhancing law enforcement accountability within criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates transparency, disclaimers, and accuracy reviews for AI in law enforcement, protecting data privacy and digital rights through accountability measures.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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