UtahUtah law penalizes unauthorized tracking of people and belongings
Starting May 6, 2026, people injured by unlawful tracking may ask a court to stop it and award damages.
What it does
Knowingly tracking someone without permission, or continuing after they revoke it, is a class A misdemeanor. Exceptions cover certain investigators, caregivers, parents, police, and vehicle-related tracking.
A person injured by unlawful tracking may sue. If the court finds a violation and injury, the person can choose compensation for proven losses or statutory damages of $50 per day or $5,000, whichever is greater.
Argument forPeople may have stronger protection because knowingly tracking them without permission, or continuing after they revoke it, can lead to a criminal penalty.
Argument againstRental companies and some vehicle owners may track a vehicle without the driver's permission, which could leave drivers with less control over location tracking.
More detail
A person commits a class A misdemeanor by knowingly and intentionally placing or using a tracking device or application without permission, or continuing to track after permission is revoked. The rule covers tracking a person, their physical belongings, or a motor vehicle owned or leased by someone else. The person must know they lack permission or that permission was revoked, and must intend to track the individual's movement. Exceptions cover certain private investigators, court-ordered tracking, police work, parents tracking minors, caregivers tracking vulnerable adults, rental companies, and some vehicle owners. The law takes effect May 6, 2026.
A person injured by unlawful tracking may sue; if the court finds a violation and injury, it must award attorney fees and either compensatory or statutory damages. The person injured by the violation may sue. The heirs of a deceased person may also bring an action. Before final judgment, the plaintiff may choose statutory damages instead of compensation for proven losses. Statutory damages are $50 for each day of violation or $5,000, whichever is greater. Any restitution ordered in a criminal case is deducted from damages. The law takes effect May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 26Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 11House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 7House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 7Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Mar 5House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 5House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ floor amendment
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 2Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 2Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 28Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 25Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 17Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 17Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 17House/ to Senate
- Feb 13House/ held
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 13House/ floor amendment
- Feb 13House/ uncircled
- Feb 10House/ circled
- Feb 10House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 3House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 3House/ committee report favorable [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 2House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 27House/ to standing committee [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 27Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm [House Rules Committee]Major
- Jan 26LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0158S01
- Jan 26LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0158S01
- Jan 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0158S01
- Jan 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0158S01
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0158
- Jan 19LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0158
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 6LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0158
- Jan 6LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0158
- Jan 6Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 6Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal JusticeTechnology