Utah law defines terrorism and adds several criminal offenses

Utah law calls the offense terrorism and applies it to certain completed crimes as well as threats. The offense applies to a person who commits or threatens the specified crime. The conduct must involve bodily injury, death, or substantial property damage, and the person must threaten a weapon of mass destruction or act with one of the listed intents. The penalty depends on the conduct and intent: the offense ranges from a second-degree felony to a class B misdemeanor. A court must also order repayment of response expenses and losses unless it gives reasons on the record not to. The law took effect May 6, 2026.

Utah law makes unlawfully advancing foreign organizations or governments a third-degree felony. A qualifying crime must be a local, state, or federal offense punishable as a class B misdemeanor, class A misdemeanor, or felony. To advance a federally designated foreign terrorist organization, a person must coordinate with it to commit a qualifying crime and intend to benefit or advance the group’s interests. The offense also covers unlawfully acting, or trying to act, as an agent of a foreign government. The law took effect May 6, 2026.

Utah law makes intentional concealment of identity while committing an offense in public a class A misdemeanor. The rule covers public places, including streets and shared areas of buildings that the public or a substantial group can access. The person must intentionally or knowingly wear a mask or disguise to hide their identity from law enforcement or other government officials. While disguised, the person must be committing or trying to commit a crime, or knowingly gathering with people committing or trying to commit one. The law took effect May 6, 2026.

Utah law makes certain group actions blocking religious access a felony and lets an injured person sue. An injured person, or the heirs of a deceased injured person, may sue the person who committed the act. The person must act with at least two others and intend to block someone from entering or leaving a house of worship to stop them from exercising religious rights. If a court finds the violation and injury, it must award attorney fees and either compensatory damages or $2,000 in statutory damages, whichever is greater. Any criminal restitution is deducted. The law does not apply to a person exercising protected constitutional rights. The law took effect May 6, 2026.

Utah law adds two offenses to the list used to define a pattern of unlawful activity. The list applies to the definition of a pattern of unlawful activity in this part of Utah law. The broader definition requires at least three related episodes that show continuing unlawful conduct and meet the stated time limits. The law took effect May 6, 2026.