The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Utah HB 120 requires auxiliary lighting and reflectors on vehicles when cargo carriers block tail lights
Last action · March 6, 2026: House/ filedSponsors: Scott Chew and 1 other
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah drivers are prohibited from operating a vehicle with a cargo carrier that obscures the required tail lights from 500 feet away, unless they install compliant red auxiliary lighting and reflectors. Violations are classified as an carrying a fine of up to $100 for a first offense and up to $200 for subsequent offenses within three years.
Motorists who use hitch-mounted carriers, trays, or baskets must add wired auxiliary tail lamps and red reflectors to prevent obscured rear visibility, facing monetary fines if they fail to comply.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
motor vehicle operators using cargo carriers
Drivers using hitch-mounted carriers, trays, or baskets must install auxiliary red lighting and reflectors if their standard tail lights are obscured or face monetary fines.
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
What types of devices are considered cargo carriers under this bill?
What are the penalties for violating the tail light obstruction requirements?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the House floor.
Procedural history
26 actions- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ filed
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ strike enacting clause
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
- Feb 26, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0120S01
- Feb 25, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0120S01
- Feb 24, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0120S01
Show 20 earlier actions
- Feb 24, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0120S01
- Feb 4, 2026HouseHouse/ circled
- Feb 4, 2026HouseHouse/ motion to reconsider
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ filed
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ failed
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Jan 26, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Jan 26, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Jan 23, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Jan 22, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 20, 2026HouseHouse/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 14, 2026HouseHouse/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 14, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0120
- Jan 13, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0120
- Dec 30, 2025Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 30, 2025Legislative Research and General CounselBill Numbered but not Distributed
- Nov 17, 2025Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0120
- Oct 29, 2025Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0120
- Oct 29, 2025Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0120
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
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools