Criminal Justice (Firearms)

SB 86 creates a temporary firearm safekeeping program allowing cohabitants or owners to voluntarily give firearms to law enforcement if they believe someone in the home poses an immediate threat (e.g., domestic violence situations). Law enforcement must hold firearms for 60 days (extendable by request) and return them to the owner unless the owner is a restricted person or subject to a domestic violence court order. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to anonymously report aggregate usage data (e.g., number of requests, firearms held) to the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice annually, starting July 1, 2026, with data collection sunsetting in 2028. This affects individuals seeking temporary firearm storage for safety during crises, without changing existing firearm ownership laws.

HB 220 amends reporting requirements for public safety data in Utah, shifting where certain reports are submitted. It removes mandated reports about domestic violence firearm restrictions, sexual assaults in detention facilities, and other crime data from being sent to a legislative committee, instead directing these reports to the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice for inclusion in a public safety portal. The bill also adds new requirements for institutions of higher education, strike forces, and agencies like the Department of Corrections to submit specific crime and safety data to this portal. These changes streamline data collection for public access but do not alter underlying laws or create new funding.