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SB 115UTAHSession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Utah Requires Courts to Report Animal Abuse Convictions to Child Welfare Agency

Original title: Child and Animal Abuse Cross-reporting Amendments

Last action · March 6, 2026: Senate/ filedSponsors: Jen Plumb and 1 other

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

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What This Bill Proposed

Utah SB 115 requires the to quarterly report convictions for animal cruelty and related offenses to the Division of Child and Family Services, beginning May 6, 2026. The bill establishes that an individual cannot be investigated for child abuse or neglect based solely on an animal abuse conviction.

Why it matters

Establishes a formal data-sharing pipeline between the state court system and child welfare investigators, while setting a statutory protection that prevents animal abuse records from triggering child welfare investigations on their own.

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

Administrative Office of the Courts

Must compile and submit quarterly reports containing conviction data for specific animal offenses to the Division of Child and Family Services.

Directly affected

Division of Child and Family Services

Must receive and document quarterly reports of animal abuse convictions from the courts while adhering to the restriction against single-source investigations.

Directly affected

Individuals convicted of animal abuse offenses

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

Which agency is responsible for sending the animal abuse conviction reports?
The is responsible for reporting the convictions at least once in each quarter of the year.
Can someone automatically be investigated for child abuse based on an animal abuse conviction?
No. The bill explicitly prohibits investigating an individual for child abuse or neglect based solely on an animal abuse conviction.
What specific offenses must be reported to the child welfare agency?
Reportable offenses include cruelty to an animal, aggravated cruelty to an animal, torturing a companion animal, dog fighting, attending a dog fight or related activity, and injuring, harassing, or endangering a service animal.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the Senate floor.

Procedural history

31 actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ filed
  2. Mar 6, 2026Senate
    Senate/ strike enacting clause
  3. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  4. Feb 6, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0115S02
  5. Feb 5, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0115S02
  6. Feb 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ circled
Show 25 earlier actions
  1. Feb 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  2. Feb 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ motion to reconsider
  3. Feb 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0115S02
  4. Feb 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0115S02
  5. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ filed
  6. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ failed
  7. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  8. Jan 26, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0115S01
  9. Jan 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  10. Jan 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
  11. Jan 22, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0115S01
  12. Jan 21, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  13. Jan 21, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  14. Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0115S01
  15. Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0115S01
  16. Jan 20, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  17. Jan 20, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  18. Jan 20, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0115
  19. Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  20. Jan 17, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0115
  21. Jan 13, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research
  22. Jan 9, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0115
  23. Jan 9, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0115
  24. Jan 9, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  25. Jan 9, 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.

Sponsors

Jen PlumbSenate · District 9DemocraticPrimary sponsor
Steve EliasonHouse · District 43RepublicanCosponsor

Connected Entities

Division of Child and Family Services, Administrative Office of the Courts
OrganizationDivision of Child and Family Services“Receives quarterly animal abuse conviction reports from the courts.”Map →
OrganizationAdministrative Office of the Courts“Required to submit quarterly reports of animal abuse convictions.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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