The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Utah requires chemical testing on reasonable suspicion for drivers and senior officer review for fatal accident warrants
Last action · March 23, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Ann Millner and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Utah law requires peace officers to direct drivers to submit to chemical alcohol or drug tests when there is reasonable suspicion of impaired driving, and mandates that officers investigating fatal accidents review facts with a senior officer before declining to seek a search warrant.
Drivers suspected of impaired operation face mandatory chemical testing and license revocation risks, while law enforcement agencies must implement supervisory review protocols during fatal crash investigations.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
motor vehicle operators in Utah
Drivers are subject to mandatory chemical testing upon reasonable suspicion and face standardized penalties and license revocation procedures for test refusals.
peace officers
Officers must administer chemical tests when reasonable suspicion is met and must complete supervisory reviews with senior officers before declining search warrants in fatal accidents.
Key Facts
- A peace officer with reasonable suspicion that an individual operated a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs must direct that a chemical test be administered.
- Refusal to take any requested chemical test constitutes a refusal under the statute, even if the individual submits to other requested tests.
- Drivers asked to submit to a chemical test do not have the right to select which test is administered or to consult an attorney prior to testing.
- Refusing a chemical test can result in criminal prosecution, license revocation, multi-year prohibitions on driving with measurable alcohol, and ignition interlock requirements.
Show all 6 facts
- If an officer investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident believes there is insufficient probable cause for a search warrant, the officer must review the facts with a senior officer.
- The legislation takes effect on May 6, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a driver choose which chemical test is administered by the police?
What happens if an officer investigates a fatal accident and decides not to seek a search warrant for a chemical test?
Can a driver have an attorney present before deciding whether to take a chemical test?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
66 actions- Mar 23, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 23, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 12, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Show 60 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Mar 10, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 10, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ uncircled
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ circled
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 2, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0226S02
- Mar 2, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0226S02
- Mar 2, 2026HouseHouse/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
- Mar 2, 2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Mar 2, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Mar 2, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Mar 1, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0226S02
- Mar 1, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0226S02
- Feb 27, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 25, 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 SB0226S01
- Feb 25, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0226S01
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate/ floor amendment
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 23, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ substituted
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0226S01
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0226S01
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ amended
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Feb 3, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0226
- Feb 3, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0226
- Feb 3, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 2, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 30, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 30, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0226
- Jan 30, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0226
- Jan 30, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 30, 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 →Voting Record
House/ passed 3rd reading
Total
75
- Yes
- 59
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 15
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (1)
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
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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