UtahUtah law lets victims request initials in many public case records
For offenses on or after July 1, 2026, victims may ask listed agencies to use their initials in many public criminal justice records, with some exceptions.
What it does
For certain crimes, victims may ask to use initials instead of their names in many public criminal justice records. The option excludes certain protective-order and stalking-injunction records, and records created by the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division.
Agencies that use a victim’s initials in a public record must keep the information needed to identify the victim and provide the name when a court orders it.
Argument forVictims may keep their names out of many public case records, while agencies keep the information needed to provide names under a court order.
Argument againstUsing initials could make it harder for the public to identify victims in records that anyone can access, including records available for a fee.
More detail
A victim may request initials instead of their name in certain public criminal justice records. This covers charging papers and other records related to the criminal justice process that are created by listed agencies or related entities and accessible to the general public, even for a fee. Records available only to people connected to a case are excluded. The option does not apply to records needed to issue or enforce certain criminal protective orders or stalking injunctions, or to records created by the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division. This applies to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2026. The law takes effect May 6, 2026.
An agency covered by the rule must keep information needed to identify a victim and provide the victim’s name in response to a court order. This covers agencies and related entities that create the public criminal justice records described in the law. The duty applies when a victim is identified by initials in a public record. The agency must provide the name in response to a court order and keep information needed to respond to a lawful court order. The law takes effect May 6, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 26Governor 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 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ 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 Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 26Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 19Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 17Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 17House/ to Senate
- Feb 17House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 17House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 6House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 6House/ committee report favorable [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 5House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Jan 30House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Jan 30Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm [House Rules Committee]Major
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0102S02
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0102
- Jan 28LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0102S02
- Jan 27LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0102S02
- Jan 27LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0102S02
- Jan 21LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0102S01
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0102S01
- Jan 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0102S01
- Jan 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0102S01
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 14LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0102
- Jan 13LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0102
- 2025
- Dec 29LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0102
- Dec 29LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0102
- Dec 29Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 29Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal Justice