UtahUtah wildlife law sets grizzly bear and hunt reporting rules
Hunting license and permit holders may have to report hunt information if the wildlife division adopts a rule; the law takes effect May 6, 2026.
What it does
The wildlife division may require hunting license and permit holders to report hunt information. A rule may set penalties, but a fine cannot exceed $25.
People who resolve certain wildlife or guide and outfitter offenses through court may have to repay documented investigation costs. The money goes to a fund for anti-poaching work, along with specified wildlife restitution.
When the division finds a grizzly bear in an area where bears are federally listed as threatened or endangered, it must ask the federal wildlife service to remove it. The division must also manage bears to prevent them from establishing in Utah.
Pilots may face criminal penalties if they knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly operate an aircraft in a way that results in someone unlawfully taking or locating wildlife from it.
Argument forMoney from investigation costs and wildlife restitution could help fund anti-poaching education, detection equipment, enforcement projects, and officer training.
Argument againstHunters could face a fine of up to $25 for not reporting hunt information if the wildlife division adopts a reporting rule.
More detail
The wildlife division may require people with hunting licenses or permits to report hunt information and may set penalties for missing reports. A rule may cover anyone who gets a hunting license or permit. The division must adopt a rule before requiring reports or setting penalties. A penalty that requires payment cannot exceed $25. Any reporting requirement or penalty applies only after the division adopts a rule.
The Division of Law Enforcement must collect reimbursement for certain investigation costs and deposit the money into the Poaching Mitigation Fund. Covered costs are money the Division of Law Enforcement spends on necessary services, authorizations, contraband, or unlawfully held property to further an ongoing investigation, including covert work. Reimbursement applies when a person is convicted, enters a plea agreement held in abeyance, or enters a diversion agreement for a listed wildlife or guide and outfitter offense. The division must document the investigation cost. The fund may also receive legislative appropriations and investment income.
The wildlife division must ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove certain grizzly bears from Utah and manage bears to prevent them from establishing in the state. The management duty applies statewide. The removal request applies when the division finds a grizzly bear in an area where grizzly bears are federally listed as threatened or endangered. These duties do not apply to a grizzly bear lawfully held in captivity and restrained. The prevention duty lasts until grizzly bears are fully delisted under federal law and removed from federal control throughout Utah.
A pilot may not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly operate an aircraft if that operation results in someone unlawfully taking or locating wildlife from it. A pilot is a person who operates an airplane or helicopter while it is in flight. A first violation is a class B misdemeanor, a second is a class A misdemeanor, and a third or later violation is a third degree felony. The division may revoke a license, tag, registration certificate, or permit held by the pilot.
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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 16House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 16House/ 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 HB0111S02
- Mar 7LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0111S02
- Mar 6Senate/ circled
- Mar 6Senate/ substituted
- Mar 6Senate/ uncircled
- Mar 6LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0111S02
- Mar 6LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0111S02
- Mar 6Senate/ circled
- Mar 6Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 26Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 23Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment 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/ floor amendment
- Feb 6House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0111S01
- Jan 29House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 29House/ committee report favorable [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Jan 28House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Jan 28LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0111S01
- Jan 26House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Jan 26Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm [House Rules Committee]Major
- Jan 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0111S01
- Jan 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0111S01
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 14House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 13LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0111
- Jan 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0111
- 2025
- Dec 29LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0111
- Dec 29LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0111
- Dec 29Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 29Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Environment & EnergyPublic Safety