UtahCounty jails help eligible inmates seek identification
Utah law provides certain county jail inmates help seeking identification and requires the corrections department to offer inmates a secure way to contact their attorneys.
What it does
County jails check whether inmates serving at least six months have a current license or state ID. Eligible inmates who want help can get assistance applying, renewing, or replacing a document.
Treatment programs share drug test results with a participant’s probation or parole officer, or certain corrections treatment staff, when a recipient requests them and the participant has signed a waiver.
The Department of Corrections provides inmates and their attorneys a secure online portal to communicate and exchange documents.
As part of release planning, the Department of Corrections identifies housing resources and other needs, such as food, clothing, transportation, and nearby treatment.
Argument forEligible inmates who want help could leave jail with a current license or ID, which may help them apply for work after release.
Argument againstSharing drug test results could expose sensitive health information to supervision and treatment staff, even when participants sign the required waiver.
More detail
County jails check for a current state ID or driver license and help eligible inmates who want assistance seek one. This applies to county jail inmates sentenced to serve at least six months. The inmate must be a U.S. citizen or a lawful U.S. resident authorized to work. The jail provides a voucher toward one document, up to the cost of an original Class D license application. The inmate must qualify for the document. This requirement begins July 1, 2026. For inmates who accept help, the jail must arrange a virtual meeting with the Driver License Division at least seven days before release.
Substance abuse treatment programs provide requested drug test results to eligible supervision employees when the participant has signed a waiver. This applies to treatment program participants on probation or parole. Eligible recipients are the participant’s supervising officer or treatment staff employed by, or working under contract with, the Department of Corrections. The waiver must allow the program to share the results in compliance with federal health information disclosure laws.
The Department of Corrections provides a secure online portal for attorney-client communications and document exchanges. The portal is for inmates and their attorneys. The portal is tied to the department’s implementation of a digital communications program for inmates. The department must provide the portal within 12 months after it implements a digital communications program for inmates.
The Department of Corrections identifies and provides housing information and resources as part of inmates’ release planning. This applies to inmates preparing to leave the Department of Corrections’ custody. Release planning also addresses barriers to housing, food, clothing, and transportation, and identifies reasonably accessible community treatment resources.
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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 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ 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 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 4Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 19Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 19Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 19Senate/ uncircled
- Feb 19Senate/ circled
- Feb 19Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Feb 17Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 17Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Feb 12Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Feb 10Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Feb 9Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 6Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6House/ to Senate
- Feb 6House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 6House/ substituted
- Feb 6House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 4LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0230S03
- Feb 2LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0230S03
- Jan 29LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0230S03
- Jan 29LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0230S03
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0230S02
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0230S02
- Jan 29House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 29House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]
- Jan 28House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 28House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Major
- Jan 28LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0230S02
- Jan 28LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0230S02
- Jan 26LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0230S01
- Jan 23House/ to standing committee [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Jan 23LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0230S01
- Jan 23LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0230S01
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0230
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0230
- Jan 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0230S01
- Jan 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0230S01
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 12LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0230
- Jan 12LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0230
- Jan 12Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 12Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal JusticeHousing