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SB 38UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah Updates Consumer Protection Laws and Division Enforcement Powers Across Multiple Industries

Original title: Consumer Protection Modifications

Last action · March 17, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Todd Weiler and 2 others

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

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

This bill updates consumer protection statutes administered by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, standardizing registration requirements, and certificate of deposit rules, and enforcement procedures across industries including credit services, charitable solicitations, fitness centers, telemarketing, solar energy, and debt management. It takes effect on May 6, 2026, with certain provisions taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

The measure alters compliance, registration terms, and financial security requirements for regulated businesses operating in Utah, while expanding the Division of Consumer Protection's administrative and enforcement authority, including the ability to issue fines up to $2,500 per violation.

Background
  • The Utah Division of Consumer Protection operates within the Department of Commerce and regulates consumer-facing industries and unfair trade practices. context
  • Title 13 of the Utah Code encompasses the state's primary business regulation, trade, and consumer protection statutes. 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.

Directly affected

Consumers in Utah

Consumers experience modified disclosure rules, cancellation rights, and claims processes across regulated commercial sectors.

Directly affected

Regulated Businesses and Sellers

Businesses face standardized registration renewal timelines, mandatory background check requirements, updated bonding thresholds, and expanded division administrative penalties.

Directly affected

Division of Consumer Protection

The division assumes expanded administrative, investigative, and enforcement powers across multiple commercial chapters.

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 is the primary function of SB 38?
SB 38 updates, renumbers, and standardizes consumer protection laws across multiple industries in Utah, clarifying the enforcement powers, registration rules, and bonding requirements administered by the Division of Consumer Protection.
What are the bonding requirements for credit services organizations under the bill?
Credit services organizations are required to maintain a , letter of credit, or certificate of deposit in the amount of $100,000 approved by the division.
When do the provisions of this bill take effect?
Most provisions of the bill take effect on May 6, 2026, with specific provisions regarding the Division of Consumer Protection's functions taking effect on July 1, 2026.
Where do administrative fines collected by the division go?
Administrative fines and civil penalties collected by the division are deposited into the , which is used for consumer education, personnel training, and investigation or litigation costs.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

50 actions
  1. Mar 17, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 16, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to Governor
  3. Mar 16, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 5, 2026Senate Secretary
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 3, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 44 earlier actions
  1. Mar 3, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
  2. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
  3. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  4. Feb 27, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  5. Feb 27, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
  6. Feb 27, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  7. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  8. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ concurs with House amendment
  9. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  10. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  11. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  12. Feb 26, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  13. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ substituted
  14. Feb 26, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  15. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  16. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
  17. Feb 17, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0038S02
  18. Feb 17, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0038S02
  19. Feb 14, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0038S02
  20. Feb 14, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0038S02
  21. Feb 13, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0038S01
  22. Feb 13, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0038S01
  23. Feb 13, 2026House
    House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
  24. Feb 13, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  25. Feb 12, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  26. Feb 12, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  27. Feb 12, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0038S01
  28. Feb 12, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0038S01
  29. Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  30. Jan 22, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  31. Jan 21, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  32. Jan 21, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  33. Jan 21, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  34. Jan 21, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  35. Jan 20, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  36. Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  37. Jan 13, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  38. Jan 13, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0038
  39. Jan 13, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0038
  40. Jan 7, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research
  41. Dec 22, 2025Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0038
  42. Dec 22, 2025Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0038
  43. Dec 22, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  44. Dec 22, 2025Legislative 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.

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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

Todd WeilerSenate · District 8RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Ashlee MatthewsHouse · District 37DemocraticCosponsor
Ashlee MatthewsHouse · District 37DemocraticCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Standardized Industry Registration and Bonding

The bill aligns numerous disparate chapters in Title 13 under uniform administrative, bonding, and enforcement standards managed by the Division of Consumer Protection.

Division of Consumer Protection

Connected Entities

Division of Consumer Protection, Ashlee Matthews, Consumer Protection Education and Training Fund and 2 more
OrganizationDivision of Consumer Protection“Division responsible for administering and enforcing consumer protection laws”Map →
PersonAshlee Matthews“House Sponsor, Representative”Map →
OrganizationConsumer Protection Education and Training Fund“Expendable special revenue fund for division training, education, and enforcemen”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Commerce“Executive department housing the Division of Consumer Protection”Map →
PersonTodd Weiler“Chief Sponsor, Senator”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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