UtahUtah municipalities give officers a chance to respond before serious discipline
Since May 6, 2026, Utah municipal agencies must give covered officers a chance to respond before specified serious discipline, excluding actions for non-disciplinary reasons.
What it does
Before specified serious discipline, agencies must tell covered officers the allegations, allow at least two business days for a written reply, consider any reply, and offer a chance to be heard.
Argument forOfficers facing serious discipline could explain their side in writing and to an agency leader before the agency acts.
Argument againstThe two-business-day reply period could delay serious discipline while an agency waits for an officer’s response.
More detail
The employing agency must give the officer notice of alleged wrongdoing, time to reply in writing, and a chance to be heard before taking covered disciplinary action. This covers law enforcement officers in the municipal classified civil service systems addressed by these sections. The officer has at least two business days to submit a written reply; submitting one is optional. The agency head or a designated representative must consider any reply submitted. A municipality may use an adopted policy with procedures that give the officer more protection. The steps must happen before a suspension of more than two days, demotion, or removal under one section, and before discharge, an unpaid suspension of more than two days, or a disciplinary transfer to lower pay under the other. 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 5House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 5Senate/ circled
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Feb 25Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 25Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 23Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 20Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 19Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19House/ to Senate
- Feb 19House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 19House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 12House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 12House/ comm rpt/ amended [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Major
- Feb 11House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 11House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 5House/ to standing committee [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 22House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 22LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0153
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 17LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0153
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 6LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0153
- Jan 6LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0153
- Jan 6Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 6Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal Justice