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HB 260UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah increases penalties and creates civil actions for the unauthorized practice of law

Original title: Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments

Last action · March 23, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Anthony Loubet and 1 other

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

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What This Bill Does

Utah enacts legislation establishing criminal penalties ranging from a to a third-degree felony for individuals engaging in the , while granting courts, the Utah State Bar, and affected clients the authority to pursue civil actions and injunctions. The measure sets a three-year for civil claims and takes effect immediately upon gubernatorial approval.

Why it matters

Unlicensed practitioners face felony charges and mandatory fee awards if their actions cause monetary losses exceeding $1,000 or legal impairments, while clients gain explicit rights to recover damages and refunds.

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

unlicensed legal practitioners

Individuals engaging in the unauthorized practice of law face exposure to class A misdemeanor or third-degree felony criminal charges, court injunctions, and financial liabilities.

Directly affected

clients receiving unauthorized legal services

Clients gain explicit statutory rights to bring civil actions for general damages, special damages, attorney fees, and refunds for payments made to unlicensed providers.

Directly affected

Board of Commissioners for the Utah State Bar

The board is authorized to institute civil proceedings and seek injunctions, restitution orders, and attorney fees against persons engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.

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 criminal penalties apply to someone practicing law without a license in Utah?
Engaging in the is generally a . It becomes a third-degree felony if the person falsely represents they are licensed, causes monetary loss or damages exceeding $1,000, causes a significant impairment of a legal right, or has been previously convicted of the offense.
Can an individual still represent themselves in court under this law?
Yes. The statute explicitly states that nothing in the section prohibits an individual from personally and fully representing their own interests in a cause to which they are a party in their own right.
What is the time limit for filing a civil lawsuit regarding the unauthorized practice of law?
Both the Utah State Bar and affected clients generally have a three-year to bring an action, starting either from the date the conduct occurred (for the Bar) or the date of discovery (for the client).

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

53 actions
  1. Mar 23, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 16, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 16, 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 47 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/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  14. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  15. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  16. Feb 27, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0260S02
  17. Feb 26, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0260S02
  18. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  19. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
  20. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  21. Feb 25, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  22. Feb 25, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0260S02
  23. Feb 25, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0260S02
  24. Feb 23, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  25. Feb 9, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  26. Feb 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  27. Feb 6, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  28. Feb 6, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  29. Feb 6, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  30. Feb 2, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0260S01
  31. Jan 30, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0260S01
  32. Jan 29, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  33. Jan 29, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  34. Jan 28, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  35. Jan 28, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  36. Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0260S01
  37. Jan 28, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0260S01
  38. Jan 27, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  39. Jan 21, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  40. Jan 21, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0260
  41. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  42. Jan 20, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  43. Jan 18, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0260
  44. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0260
  45. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0260
  46. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  47. Jan 14, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

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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

Anthony LoubetHouse · District 27RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Brady BrammerSenate · District 21RepublicanCosponsor

Connected Entities

Utah, Supreme Court, Board of Commissioners for the Utah State Bar and 1 more
locationUtah“state where the legislation applies”Map →
OrganizationSupreme Court“retains authority to regulate the practice of law”Map →
OrganizationBoard of Commissioners for the Utah State Bar“board authorized to bring civil actions for the unauthorized practice of law”Map →
OrganizationUtah State Bar“governing body for state attorneys”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy25
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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