Technology

signed · Utah · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 59: Identification Verification Amendments

HB 59 requires businesses serving alcohol (including restaurants, bars, taverns, and beer retailers) to verify the age of individuals appearing to be 35 years old or younger before serving them alcohol or admitting them to the premises. It mandates electronic verification of ID using state-approved technology, limits displayed information to basic details (name, age, ID number), and requires businesses to retain verification data for seven days. The bill also allows authorized personnel to confiscate suspected fake IDs and report them to law enforcement. This law takes effect May 6, 2026, and applies retroactively from January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates electronic ID verification with privacy protections (limits displayed info, 7-day retention), supporting data privacy within technology policy.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 322: Educational Technology Regulatory Sandbox

SB 322 creates a regulatory sandbox in Utah public schools to safely test educational AI tools under new safety standards. It directly affects public schools, educators, students, and edtech vendors by requiring safety testing, parental opt-out rights, and prohibitions against AI simulating personal relationships with students. Key provisions include mandatory evidence-based evaluations, transparency requirements for vendors, integration with existing student data privacy laws (Title 53E), and a five-year sunset. The bill establishes new oversight through an Education Technology Advisory Council and limits the State Board of Education’s role in approving pilot programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates regulatory sandbox for safe AI testing in schools, mandates safety standards and parental opt-out, advancing educational technology use while protecting students.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires safety testing, parental opt-out, and integrates with data privacy laws (Title 53E) for AI in education, advancing responsible tech use and privacy protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

Track

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 84: Department of Commerce Amendments

SB 84 creates the Department of Commerce Technology, Education, and Training Fund to support specific technology and training activities within Utah's Department of Commerce. The fund will be financed by existing fees collected by the Division of Corporations (for business filings) and the Division of Professional Licensing (for public licensee lists), with all interest earned also deposited into the fund. This money will directly pay for employee training, technology maintenance for business registrations, public education materials about licensing and filings, and subscription services for business data. The bill does not appropriate new state funds but redirects existing fee revenue toward these defined purposes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly funds employee training via the Commerce Technology Fund, directly supporting workforce development and employment standards.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates dedicated fund for technology training/maintenance within Commerce Dept using existing fees, explicitly advancing tech infrastructure for business services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 223: Electronic Signature Collection Amendments

HB 223 updates Utah's process for collecting signatures on petitions by requiring all electronic signature devices to scan voter ID data (like driver's licenses) and operate offline by 2028. Starting January 1, 2030, petition sponsors and circulators must use electronic signatures exclusively, banning manual signature collection entirely. The bill also clarifies security standards for devices and mandates annual reports from the lieutenant governor to the Government Operations Committee. These changes directly affect initiative/referendum petition sponsors and candidate nomination circulators, streamlining the verification process while phasing out manual methods.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates security standards for electronic signature devices and annual reports, enhancing cybersecurity protocols in digital signature collection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

Track

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 Technology

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 26: Voting Equipment Amendments

HB 26 amends Utah's voting equipment rules to enhance security and standardize procurement. It bans wireless communication in all voting machines (except electronic pollbooks), repeals outdated ranked-choice voting certification rules, and requires election officials to purchase only equipment selected by the lieutenant governor's new voting equipment system. The bill creates a Voting Equipment Selection Committee to help the lieutenant governor evaluate and procure secure voting systems that meet mechanical ballot requirements. These changes directly affect election officials, vendors, and voters by standardizing equipment security and procurement processes.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill bans wireless in voting machines, requires secure procurement, and creates committee for cybersecurity-focused equipment evaluation, directly enhancing election system security.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 55: Privacy Compliance for Education Technology Vendors

HB 55 requires schools and government agencies contracting with education technology vendors to include specific privacy clauses in their agreements. It mandates that if a vendor illegally sells student data (violating state or federal law), the school must notify the vendor within 30 days and terminate the contract if the violation isn’t fixed within another 30 days. The bill also prohibits vendors from charging fees or seeking damages for contract termination due to privacy violations and repeals a prior provision allowing vendors to respond to student feedback requests. This directly affects schools, their ed tech vendors, and student data privacy protections under Utah law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student data privacy in ed tech contracts, mandating termination for violations and prohibiting vendor fees for breaches, strengthening student privacy safeguards in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates privacy clauses for edtech vendors, requires contract termination for illegal data sales, and protects student data privacy per bill's core provisions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Utah · Senate Feb 1, 2026

SB 5: General Government Base Budget

SB 5 is the General Government Base Budget bill for Utah's fiscal years 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) and 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It appropriates a total of $538.3 million for state agency operations in FY2026, including $387.1 million for FY2027, primarily from the General Fund and Income Tax Fund. The bill allocates specific funds to agencies like the Department of Commerce (for business licensing and AI policy development), Insurance Department (for autism coverage and fraud programs), and Tax Commission (for license plates and tax administration). These funds cover ongoing operations, system upgrades, and program activities without specifying new policy changes or eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates funds to Department of Commerce for AI policy development, a direct support indicator for technology policy advancement.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology