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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah Legislature amends rules of evidence to allow prior act testimony in child molestation and sexual assault cases
Last action · March 16, 2026: Senate/ to Lieutenant GovernorSponsors: Brady Brammer and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Utah amends Rule 404 of the Rules of Evidence to explicitly permit courts in child molestation and sexual assault cases to admit evidence of a defendant's other similar acts to prove . Prosecutors must provide reasonable to the defendant before introducing such evidence. The measure takes effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote of both legislative houses.
Changes criminal court procedures by allowing juries in sexual offense trials to hear testimony regarding a defendant's past uncharged or charged sexual misconduct, directly altering evidentiary standards for prosecutors and defendants in these cases.
- Under Utah Constitution Article VIII, Section 4, the Legislature holds the authority to amend rules of procedure and evidence adopted by the Utah Supreme Court upon a two-thirds vote of all members of both houses. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
defendants in child molestation and sexual assault cases
Defendants face the potential admission of their past acts of child molestation or sexual assault as evidence to prove propensity to commit the charged crime.
prosecutors
Prosecutors are permitted to introduce evidence of a defendant's prior similar acts in child molestation and sexual assault cases, subject to specific notice requirements.
courts
Judges are authorized to admit evidence of prior acts of child molestation or sexual assault and must rule on requests to excuse pretrial notice for good cause.
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 does this resolution change about court evidence?
Must the prosecution notify the defense before introducing prior sexual offense evidence?
How is child molestation defined in this rule?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
42 actions- Mar 16, 2026SenateSenate/ to Lieutenant Governor
- Mar 16, 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
- Mar 2, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
Show 36 earlier actions
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Feb 27, 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 23, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 23, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 23, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 23, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 20, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Feb 20, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 2, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SJR001S01
- Feb 2, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SJR001S01
- Jan 30, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Not Considered
- Jan 30, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SJR001S01
- Jan 30, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SJR001S01
- Jan 20, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 12, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 7, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Dec 17, 2025ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SJR001
- Dec 17, 2025Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SJR001
- Dec 4, 2025Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SJR001
- Dec 4, 2025Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SJR001
- 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.
Expansion of Admissible Character Evidence in Sexual Offense Trials
The Utah Legislature utilized its constitutional authority under Article VIII, Section 4 to amend rules of evidence adopted by the Utah Supreme Court regarding prior bad acts.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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