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HB 591UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah overhauls nuisance statutes, abrogates common law civil rights of action, and creates Title 78B, Chapter 6a

Original title: Nuisance Amendments

Last action · March 25, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Colin Jack and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

This bill reorganizes and updates Utah's public and laws, establishes Title 78B, Chapter 6a for civil nuisance actions, and generally abrogates common law civil rights of action for nuisances except for specific attorney general enforcement and existing claims.

Why it matters

Residents, property owners, and local governments face a completely restructured statutory framework governing public and s, specific immunity defenses for agricultural, industrial, and shooting range operations, and modified procedures for .

Background
  • Utah's nuisance laws were previously distributed across multiple titles, including Title 47 and Title 78B, leading to fragmented statutory guidance for civil litigation and municipal enforcement. context
  • The Judiciary Interim Committee is a standing legislative committee tasked with reviewing statutory operations and reporting requirements between general sessions of the Utah Legislature. 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.

Directly affected

Property owners

Property owners are subject to the newly codified civil action rules, statutory definitions for public and private nuisances, and revised procedures for abatement by eviction.

Directly affected

Agricultural operators

Agricultural operators receive explicit statutory defenses against nuisance claims when operating in the normal course and in accordance with sound practices within protection areas.

Directly affected

Local governments

Counties and municipalities face limitations on imposing criminal penalties for minor pet and residential violations and must adhere to updated nuisance ordinance frameworks.

Directly affected

Shooting range operators

Shooting range operators are granted explicit statutory defenses against noise pollution and nuisance claims if established prior to surrounding development or noise rules.

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

Can private citizens still file common law nuisance lawsuits under this bill?
No. The bill abrogates common law civil rights of action for public and s, allowing only specific statutory rights of action and reserving common law claims exclusively for the attorney general under strict conditions.
How are agricultural operations protected under the new nuisance laws?
Agricultural operations conducted in the normal and ordinary course or in accordance with sound agricultural practices are presumed reasonable and do not constitute a public or , provided they comply with applicable laws and are located within designated protection areas or meet statutory defense criteria.
What penalties apply for violating a court order that enjoins a nuisance?
A person who knowingly violates a judgment or order abating or enjoining a public or is guilty of a class B misdemeanor and faces a civil penalty of $50 per day for each day the violation continues.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

58 actions
  1. Mar 25, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 17, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 17, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 12, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 11, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 52 earlier actions
  1. Mar 11, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Mar 11, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 11, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Mar 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  7. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  8. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ concurs with Senate amendment
  9. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  10. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  11. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House with amendments
  12. Mar 6, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  13. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ floor amendment
  14. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ substituted
  15. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  16. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  17. Mar 5, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0591S03
  18. Mar 5, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0591S03
  19. Mar 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0591S03
  20. Mar 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0591S03
  21. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  22. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  23. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
  24. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  25. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  26. Mar 4, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0591S02
  27. Mar 4, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0591S02
  28. Mar 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0591S02
  29. Mar 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0591S02
  30. Mar 4, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0591S01
  31. Mar 4, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0591S01
  32. Mar 3, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0591S01
  33. Mar 3, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0591S01
  34. Mar 2, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  35. Mar 2, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  36. Mar 2, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  37. Feb 27, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  38. Feb 27, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  39. Feb 27, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  40. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  41. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ committee report favorable
  42. Feb 25, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  43. Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  44. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  45. Feb 24, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0591
  46. Feb 24, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0591
  47. Feb 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  48. Feb 20, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  49. Feb 20, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0591
  50. Feb 20, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0591
  51. Feb 20, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  52. Feb 20, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill 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

Colin JackHouse · District 73RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Brady BrammerSenate · District 21RepublicanCosponsor
Brady BrammerSenate · District 21RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

2 patterns noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Consolidation of Nuisance Statutes into Title 78B, Chapter 6a

The bill systematically repeals, renumbers, and consolidates scattered nuisance provisions from Title 47 and Title 78B into a unified statutory chapter.

Judiciary Interim Committee
unusual activity100% confidence

Abrogation of Common Law Civil Nuisance Actions

The legislation explicitly eliminates common law civil rights of action for public and private nuisances for private parties, restricting such common law claims exclusively to the attorney general.

Connected Entities

Department of Environmental Quality, Judiciary Interim Committee, Colin W. Jack and 3 more
OrganizationDepartment of Environmental Quality“May provide reports and findings on reservoir integrity”Map →
OrganizationJudiciary Interim Committee“Required to review reports regarding the attorney general's common law nuisance ”Map →
PersonColin W. Jack“Chief Sponsor of HB 591”Map →
OrganizationEnvironmental Protection Agency“Standard setter for carbon dioxide storage leakage rates”Map →
OrganizationUtah Geological Survey“May provide findings regarding carbon dioxide storage reservoirs”Map →
PersonBrady Brammer“Senate Sponsor of HB 591”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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