UtahUtah law limits pardon and expungement options for some offenders
Utah law lets courts order state supervision for some class B misdemeanor cases and sets waiting periods and limits for pardons and expungement involving registry offenses.
What it does
Courts may order state supervision for some people convicted of class B misdemeanors, but only if they have at least five such convictions, are homeless, and the division agrees.
People required to register for a sex, kidnapping, or child abuse offense may have to wait 10 or 20 years before the parole board can consider a pardon.
People whose conviction requires registry enrollment at sentencing or when they apply cannot get an eligibility certificate to expunge that conviction.
The parole board can release someone before the minimum prison term only after finding a strong reason and deciding the person no longer threatens public safety.
Argument forSome people with repeated class B misdemeanor convictions who are homeless could receive state supervision if the division agrees, giving courts another option.
Argument againstPeople required to register may have to wait 10 or 20 years before the parole board can consider a pardon, delaying access to that option.
More detail
A court may order the Division of Adult Probation and Parole to supervise some people convicted of class B misdemeanors. This applies to people convicted of a class B misdemeanor who are placed on probation. The person must have at least five prior class B misdemeanor convictions and be currently homeless. The division must agree to supervise the person.
The Board of Pardons and Parole may consider a pardon for a covered registry offense only after a waiting period. This applies to people whose offense requires registration on Utah's Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry. The wait is 10 years for people required to register for 10 years and 20 years for people required to register for life. The wait does not apply if a court vacated, reversed, or set aside the conviction, or found the person factually innocent. The wait starts from the latest applicable event, such as placement on probation, release to parole, or entry into a community-based residential program.
The Bureau of Criminal Identification may not issue an eligibility certificate to expunge a covered registry offense. This applies to people seeking to expunge a conviction that requires sex, kidnapping, or child abuse offender registration. The bar applies if the offense required registration at sentencing or when the person applies for the certificate.
Before releasing someone before the minimum prison term, the board must make specified findings and hold a public hearing. This applies to people committed to a state prison and considered for release before serving the minimum term. The board must find mitigating circumstances and, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person is no longer a threat to public safety. The board must hold a noticed, open hearing and record its proceedings and decisions.
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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 26Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 7House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 7Enrolled 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
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Mar 5House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 4House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 4Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 4Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 4Senate/ substituted
- Mar 4Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 3LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0110S06
- Mar 1LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S06
- Feb 27LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0110S05
- Feb 27LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S05
- Feb 26LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0110S04
- Feb 26LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S04
- Feb 26LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0110S03
- Feb 26LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0110S06
- Feb 26LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0110S06
- Feb 25LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0110S05
- Feb 25LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0110S05
- Feb 25LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0110S04
- Feb 25LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0110S04
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S03
- 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/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 19LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S03
- Feb 17Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 17Senate/ comm rpt/ amended [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Major
- Feb 17Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 17Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 13Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 12Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 11Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 10House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 10House/ substituted
- Feb 10House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 10LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0110S03
- Feb 10LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0110S03
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0110S01
- Feb 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S02
- Feb 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S01
- Feb 5LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0110S01
- Feb 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S02
- Feb 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110S01
- Feb 3House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 3House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Judiciary Committee]
- Feb 2House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Feb 2House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Major
- Feb 2LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0110S02
- Feb 2LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0110S02
- Feb 1LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0110S01
- Feb 1LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0110S01
- Jan 28House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0110
- Jan 19LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0110
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- 2025
- Dec 29LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0110
- Dec 29LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0110
- Dec 29Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 29Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Criminal Justice