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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah updates evidence retention and biological evidence preservation rules for law enforcement agencies
Last action · March 23, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Wayne Harper and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
This bill modifies requirements for law enforcement agencies seeking to return or dispose of evidence in misdemeanor and felony cases, establishes mandatory retention periods for felony and violent felony evidence including sexual assault kits, and sets out formal notice and objection procedures for defendants and prosecutors.
Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and individuals convicted of crimes face new procedural rules, timelines, and notice requirements before physical and can be returned or destroyed.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Law Enforcement Agencies
Law enforcement agencies must follow updated request procedures, timelines, and court petition processes when seeking to return or dispose of misdemeanor and felony evidence.
Prosecuting Attorneys
Prosecuting attorneys are required to review evidence disposal requests, issue notices of receipt and decisions within specific timeframes, and handle objections.
Defendants and Inmates
Individuals in custody or facing prosecution receive formal notices regarding evidence disposal and gain structured windows to submit objections or request DNA testing.
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 a law enforcement agency do before disposing of misdemeanor evidence?
How long must biological evidence from a sexual assault kit be preserved?
Can a defendant object to the disposal of biological evidence?
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
39 actions- Mar 23, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 11, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 11, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 3, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 2, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 33 earlier actions
- Mar 2, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Feb 26, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 18, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 17, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 17, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 17, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 17, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 17, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 17, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 13, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Feb 13, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Jan 29, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 29, 2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
- Jan 27, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Jan 20, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 16, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 15, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0071
- Jan 15, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0071
- Jan 7, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0071
- Jan 5, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0071
- Jan 5, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 5, 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 →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.
Standardized Evidence Disposal and Review Timelines
The legislation formalizes strict notification and response deadlines between law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and defendants before physical or biological evidence can be returned or destroyed.
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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