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HB 237UTAHSession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Utah Bill HB 237 Reclassifies Stalking Offense Involving Unlawful Dwelling Entry as Second-Degree Felony

Original title: Stalking Amendments

Last action · March 6, 2026: House/ filedSponsor: Verona Mauga

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Utah HB 237 reclassifies stalking as a second-degree felony when an actor unlawfully enters a victim's dwelling during the commission of the offense, taking effect on May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

Residents facing stalking offenses face harsher criminal penalties, shifting from lower-level misdemeanors or felonies to a second-degree felony specifically when unlawful home entry occurs.

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.

Directly affected

victims of stalking

Victims receive expanded law enforcement protections and clearer statutory definitions regarding stalking offenses and protective orders.

Directly affected

law enforcement officers

Officers are mandated to take specific protective actions upon responding to stalking allegations, such as weapon confiscation and providing victim rights notices.

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 makes a stalking offense a second-degree felony under this bill?

A stalking offense becomes a second-degree felony if the actor uses a dangerous weapon or force likely to produce death or serious bodily injury, or if the actor enters the victim's dwelling under circumstances known to be unlawful.

Are law enforcement officers required to take specific actions when responding to stalking allegations?

Yes, responding law enforcement officers must use all reasonable means to protect the victim and prevent further violence, including confiscating weapons, arranging for emergency shelter, and providing written notice of rights and available remedies.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

11 actions

Mar 6, 2026House
House/ filed
Mar 6, 2026House
House/ strike enacting clause
Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
Jan 20, 2026House
House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
Jan 19, 2026Released
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0237
Jan 19, 2026Version Sponsor
LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0237

Show 5 earlier actions

Jan 14, 2026House
House/ received bill from Legislative Research
Jan 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0237
Jan 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0237
Jan 13, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
Jan 13, 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.

Connected Entities

Verona Mauga

PersonVerona Mauga“Chief Sponsor of HB 237”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
Controversy30
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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