The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Utah requires local law enforcement agencies to maintain mobile device forensics capabilities by January 2027
Last action · March 23, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Todd Weiler and 1 other
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
Local law enforcement agencies in Utah must establish their own , partner with another entity for shared access, or staff the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory by January 1, 2027. The measure also permits agencies to access the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory for self-serve equipment or advanced forensics under specific circumstances.
Local police departments and sheriffs' offices must acquire new technical equipment, establish formal interagency sharing agreements, or contribute personnel hours to regional labs to comply with digital evidence requirements.
- The Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory is a specialized digital evidence facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. context
- SB 19 was introduced during the 2026 General Session of the Utah Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. 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.
local law enforcement agencies
Local police departments and sheriff offices must establish their own mobile device forensics capabilities, secure partner agreements, or contribute staff hours to a regional laboratory by January 1, 2027.
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 must local law enforcement agencies do by January 1, 2027?
Can local law enforcement agencies still use the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory under this law?
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
43 actions- Mar 23, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Feb 25, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 37 earlier actions
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Feb 19, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Feb 19, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Feb 19, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 17, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 17, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Feb 13, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 4, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0019S01
- Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 4, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 4, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 3, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0019S01
- Feb 2, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 2, 2026SenateSenate/ substituted
- Feb 2, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Jan 29, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0019S01
- Jan 29, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0019S01
- Jan 22, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Jan 22, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Jan 21, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Jan 21, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Jan 21, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 21, 2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 21, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0019
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 19, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0019
- Jan 7, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Dec 4, 2025Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0019
- Dec 4, 2025Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0019
- Dec 4, 2025Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 4, 2025Legislative 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 →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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Digital Forensics Capacity for Local Police
Utah has established a statutory deadline requiring every local law enforcement agency to secure independent or shared mobile device forensics capabilities.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools