UtahUtah law sets bail rules and workplace violence protections
Starting May 6, 2026, courts will apply specified bail and release rules in some domestic violence cases, and employers may seek workplace protection orders.
What it does
For some felony and serious misdemeanor domestic violence charges, courts must presume a person is dangerous when deciding whether to deny bail, if specified conditions are met.
People arrested or cited for certain offenses must appear before a magistrate or sign a written agreement before release. A limited exception protects some parent-child contact.
Employers, including nonprofits with volunteers, may ask courts for orders against workplace violence. A court may order someone to stay away from the location where the harm or threat occurred.
Argument forEmployers, including nonprofits, could seek court orders to protect paid workers and volunteers from workplace threats or harm.
Argument againstThe bail presumption could keep some people charged with certain domestic violence offenses in jail before trial, even when release conditions might manage the risk.
More detail
A court must presume a person is a danger to an alleged victim or the community in certain bail decisions. This applies when a court considers bail for a person charged with a domestic violence offense. The presumption applies to a felony or class A misdemeanor domestic violence charge when clear and convincing evidence shows the person was on parole or probation for a domestic violence conviction, or was released before trial on another domestic violence charge. This law takes effect May 6, 2026.
A person arrested or cited for a qualifying offense may not be released before the case is submitted to a magistrate or the person signs a written release agreement. A qualifying offense includes domestic violence, certain offenses against children or vulnerable adults, and certain sexual offenses. For domestic violence committed in a child's presence, an agreement or court order may not bar a parent or guardian from contacting the child if the child and the child's parent or guardian are not the alleged victim. This law takes effect May 6, 2026.
An employer or nonprofit organization may ask a court for a protective order against workplace violence. The rules cover paid employees and volunteers donating services to nonprofit organizations; those nonprofits count as employers. A court may issue an order without notice if needed to protect someone, or after notice and a hearing. A stay-away order must be limited to the work location where the harm or threat occurred. This 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 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 17House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 12House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 11Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 11Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 11House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 11House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 10Senate/ to House
- Mar 10Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 10Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 7House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 7House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 7House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 7House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 7Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 7Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 7Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 7LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0539S04
- Mar 7LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0539S04
- Mar 7Senate/ circled
- Mar 7Senate/ substituted
- Mar 7Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 7LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0539S04
- Mar 7LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0539S04
- Mar 7Senate/ circled
- Mar 7Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 5Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Mar 4Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 25Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0539S03
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0539S03
- Feb 24Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24House/ to Senate
- Feb 24House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 24House/ substituted
- Feb 24House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 24LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0539S03
- Feb 24LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0539S03
- Feb 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0539S02
- Feb 20LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0539S02
- Feb 19House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 19House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]
- Feb 19House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 19House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Major
- Feb 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0539S02
- Feb 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0539S02
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0539S01
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0539S01
- Feb 17LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0539S01
- Feb 17LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0539S01
- Feb 17House/ to standing committee [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 12House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 12LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0539
- Feb 12LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0539
- Feb 11House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 10House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 10LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0539
- Feb 10LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0539
- Feb 10Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 10Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety