UtahUtah law requires location monitoring for some sex offenders
Utah law provides location monitoring for some sex offenders who cannot give the registry a required address, with agencies starting monitoring promptly after discovery.
What it does
The Department of Public Safety runs location monitoring for sex offenders who cannot provide a registry address. People who show they cannot afford the cost do not have to pay it.
A sex offender required to take part in monitoring must follow its rules. Knowingly failing to comply is covered by the law's registration penalties, which vary with the offense and registration period.
Agencies responsible for monitoring a person must coordinate when oversight moves between areas. If the person lacks a required address and knowingly ignores the program, the responsible agency must seek a warrant and try to locate and arrest them.
Argument forMonitoring people who cannot provide a registry address could help agencies locate some who do not follow the program and seek a warrant when required.
Argument againstLocation tracking and possible charges could burden people without a stable home, even though those who show they cannot pay are exempt from the monitoring cost.
More detail
The Department of Public Safety runs a location monitoring program for some sex offenders who cannot provide a required registry address. The program covers sex offenders who cannot provide the required address for the registry. The program uses GPS-based satellite or other location technology, and, where possible, systems with minimal charging, battery, or maintenance needs. A person who shows the department they cannot afford the cost does not have to pay it. The program applies when the registrable offense was committed on or after July 1, 2026. Monitoring must begin within one business day after an official or agency discovers that the person cannot provide the required address.
A sex offender required to take part in the monitoring program must comply with it; knowingly failing to comply is a violation of the law's registration penalty section. This applies to a sex offender required to participate in the monitoring program. The monitoring program applies to sex offenders whose registrable offense was committed on or after July 1, 2026. The penalty section sets different consequences depending on the offense and registration period; it includes at least 30 days of incarceration and at least one year of probation for the specified categories. The program applies to registrable offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.
Agencies responsible for a monitored person's oversight must monitor the person, coordinate when oversight moves between areas, and follow the warrant process if the person lacks a required address and knowingly fails to comply. These duties apply to sheriffs, qualifying municipal law enforcement agencies, and the Division when responsible for monitoring a sex offender. A municipal law enforcement agency accepts oversight only under a written agreement with the county sheriff; the Division of Adult Probation and Parole handles oversight for a person on probation or parole when it receives notice. The department must notify the responsible agency as soon as practicable. That agency must submit an affidavit seeking a warrant and, with other agencies, try to locate and arrest the person. A court must issue the warrant if it finds probable cause; the law favors a warrant instead of a summons under these procedures. Unless department rules set another period, a person transfers to a different area for monitoring after spending seven consecutive days there.
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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 24Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 16House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 16House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled 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/ uncircled
- Mar 5House/ circled
- 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/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 4Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4Senate/ comm rpt/ amended [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Major
- Mar 3Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Mar 3Senate Comm - Amendment 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 23Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 23LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0370S01
- Feb 23House/ to Senate
- Feb 23House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 23House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 21LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0370S01
- Feb 17House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 17House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Judiciary Committee]
- Feb 13House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 13House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Major
- Feb 13LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0370S01
- Feb 13LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0370S01
- Feb 6House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 5House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 5LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0370
- Feb 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0370
- Jan 26House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 26House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 26LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0370
- Jan 26LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0370
- Jan 26Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 26Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety