Technology

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 408: Data Sharing Amendments

HB 408 requires social media platforms to let users transfer portions of their personal data - including connections, content, and interactions - to other platforms within five business days. It mandates real-time data sharing when users switch services, requires explicit user consent before sharing comments or interactions during transfers, and protects platforms from penalties for temporary technical issues if they make good-faith fixes. The bill clarifies that platforms must provide data in a portable, usable format but exempts them from sharing internal algorithms, derived data, or proprietary formats that lack industry standards. This directly affects Utah social media users and platforms operating in the state, focusing on user control over their digital data.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates user data portability, explicit consent for transfers, and strengthens privacy protections for social media users, aligning with consumer data control and privacy regulations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 183: Surveillance Camera Amendments

SB 183 prohibits law enforcement officers or their agents from tampering with, repositioning, or disabling privately or commercially owned surveillance cameras without specific authorization. The law allows exceptions when the camera owner consents, a court issues a warrant beforehand, or during urgent emergencies - requiring officers to notify owners within 24 hours or obtain a court order as soon as possible after the emergency ends. This directly affects camera owners (including businesses and residents) and law enforcement agencies operating in Utah. The bill creates two new Utah Code sections (53-25-1201 and 53-25-1202) and excludes trail cameras from its provisions. It takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects privacy rights by requiring warrants for law enforcement to interfere with private cameras, enhancing police accountability and aligning with civil rights in criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits unauthorized law enforcement interference with surveillance cameras, requiring warrants/consent to protect data privacy and digital rights as per technology policy indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 296: Student Consent Amendments

SB 296 requires Utah schools and colleges to obtain clear, informed consent from students before sharing their educational data (like transcripts, enrollment records, and course history). It mandates a secure digital consent system by July 2027, prohibits bundling unrelated terms with consent requests, and ensures students can revoke consent anytime. The bill directly affects students (including minors, where parents must consent) and educational institutions, while prohibiting schools from restricting consent rights or requiring waivers of unrelated privacy protections. It aligns with federal FERPA law but adds Utah-specific rules for data disclosure, including creating a private right of action if third parties violate these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student data privacy in educational institutions, enhancing student rights and trust through mandatory consent requirements and secure systems.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates secure data handling and informed consent for student privacy, directly protecting educational data under technology-related privacy policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 450: Data Privacy Amendments

HB 450 amends Utah's Government Data Privacy Act and Government Records Access and Management Act to strengthen state data privacy oversight. It restructures the Utah Privacy Commission to include state agencies, cities, counties, and education representatives, transfers oversight to a new Utah Office of Data Privacy, and creates a data privacy ombudsman to handle complaints. The bill requires joint studies on government use of passive data collection technology and removes duplicative rules while expanding correction procedures beyond personal data. These changes directly affect Utah state and local government entities that collect or manage public data.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyStrengthens data privacy oversight via new Office of Data Privacy and ombudsman, aligning with consumer protection indicators in tech policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 73: Online Age Verification Amendments

SB 73 requires online platforms providing content deemed harmful to minors to implement age verification systems. It imposes an excise tax on these platforms, with revenues funding mental health programs and enforcement through the Division of Consumer Protection. The bill creates two dedicated accounts for these funds and grants the Division authority to investigate violations, impose fines, and establish verification standards. Platforms failing to comply face civil penalties, while approved verification methods receive a safe harbor from liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes excise tax on platforms to fund mental health programs and enforcement, directly allocating tax revenue to public services per Budget & Taxes topic description.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates excise tax revenues to fund mental health programs, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare topic.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates age verification for minors' safety on platforms, funds mental health via tax, aligns with consumer protection regulations in tech governance.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 357: Amendments to Motor Vehicle Data Privacy

HB 357 updates Utah's privacy law to cover data collected by motor vehicles. It requires car manufacturers to add privacy controls in vehicles, exempts safety data (like speed or braking) from needing driver consent, and mandates the Motor Vehicle Division to inform drivers about their privacy rights. The law directly affects car manufacturers and applies to personal data collected from drivers through their vehicles. This creates new transparency requirements for vehicle data while allowing safety-related information to be used without explicit permission.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates privacy controls for vehicle data, strengthening consumer privacy protections in automotive technology per Data and Cyber Security subjects.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 319: Electronic Records Amendments

HB 319 allows Utah counties to accept digitally authenticated documents (like e-signatures) instead of traditional notarized documents for recording. It requires counties to get approval from the State Archives before implementation, ensuring digital records meet security, retention, and preservation standards. The bill establishes that digitally authenticated records have the same legal standing as notarized documents when all requirements are met. This directly affects county recorders, document creators (such as real estate agents), and anyone submitting records to county offices. The law makes no changes to funding or fees but updates state code to reflect electronic record standards.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables digital records with security standards, granting legal equivalence to notarized documents, promoting electronic transactions in government processes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 51: School Safety Modifications

SB 51 creates a statewide system for Utah schools to share information about student threats. Local schools (LEAs) must report specific threat-related data to the State Board of Education, which can then share this information with other schools to improve safety coordination. The bill includes privacy protections for students, immunity for schools reporting in good faith, and clear rules for data collection and deletion. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not appropriate new funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates statewide safety data sharing for schools, directly addressing student health and safety (a core Education topic) with privacy protections and immunity for reporting.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyIncludes explicit privacy protections for student data in a statewide reporting system, aligning with data privacy focus of Technology topic.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 267: Software in Education Amendments

SB 267 requires Utah's State Board of Education to study how software and digital services are used in public schools, focusing on educational effectiveness, design, and data practices. The bill mandates the board to review best practices, publish guidance for responsible software use, and report findings to the Education Interim Committee upon request. It directly affects public schools, educators, and software providers by establishing standards for evaluating educational technology. The bill defines key terms like "academically effective" software but does not fund new programs or change current classroom practices. (4 sentences)

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates review of data practices and requires responsible software use guidance, advancing data privacy protections in educational technology.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 498: Utah App Store Accountability Act Amendments

HB 498 amends Utah's App Store Accountability Act to strengthen protections for minors. It requires app stores to implement clearer age ratings, provide detailed content descriptions to parents, and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing in-app purchases for users under 18. The bill adds new rules for pre-installed applications (excluding core device functions) and defines "minor accounts" requiring parent affiliation. These changes directly affect app store providers, developers, and parents managing children's mobile device usage, with enforcement handled by Utah's Division of Consumer Protection.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyStrengthens minors' data privacy via mandatory age ratings, parental consent, and content disclosures for app stores, aligning with consumer protection and privacy indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology