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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah regulates constables, requiring state licenses by 2027 and creating a licensing board
Last action · March 18, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Kirk Cullimore and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Beginning January 1, 2027, Utah requires individuals working as constables or deputy constables for a city or county to hold a state license issued by the Division of Professional Licensing under the newly enacted Constables Licensing Act. The bill creates a , establishes background check requirements, preempts local regulation of constables, and sets operating standards.
Local constables and deputy constables must obtain state professional licensure and clear criminal background checks to operate in Utah courts, while cities and counties face new contract mandates and a ban on local-level constable regulations.
- Constables in Utah are historically appointed or contracted by counties or cities to serve legal process and perform specific law enforcement support duties. context
- The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) manages professional licensing and background checks for numerous occupations across the state of Utah. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Constables
Constables must obtain a state license by January 1, 2027, undergo criminal background checks, carry required insurance, and adhere to new state operating standards.
Counties and Municipalities
Local governments can no longer enact local regulations for constables, must ensure contracted constables are licensed by 2027, and must include specific minimum provisions in constable contracts.
Division of Professional Licensing
The division must administer license applications, conduct criminal background checks, maintain public disciplinary records, and issue licenses under the new act.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do constables need to be licensed under this new law?
Can local cities or counties still pass their own local rules regulating constables?
What else do you want to know?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
52 actions- Mar 18, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 11, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 46 earlier actions
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Mar 5, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ uncircled
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ circled
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Mar 2, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Mar 2, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Feb 27, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 26, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 26, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 25, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 25, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0218S02
- Feb 24, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0218S02
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate/ substituted
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0218S02
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0218S02
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 20, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Feb 9, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 9, 2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Feb 8, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0218S01
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 6, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0218
- Feb 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0218S01
- Feb 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0218S01
- Feb 5, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0218
- Feb 3, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 3, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0218
- Jan 29, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 29, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0218
- Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0218
- Jan 28, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 28, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselBill Numbered but not Distributed
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift from Local to State Oversight
The legislation transitions constable regulation from localized county and municipal oversight to a centralized state-level licensing regime under DOPL.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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