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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah Revises Human Trafficking, Smuggling, and Exploitation Offenses and Penalties
Last action · March 23, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Cal Musselman and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
This bill redefines and updates state laws concerning human labor trafficking, sexual exploitation trafficking, human smuggling, and related offenses, establishing new specific crimes and revising penalties and background check requirements, effective May 6, 2026.
Changes criminal definitions, expands felony penalties for labor and sexual trafficking of children and s, and alters background check disqualifications for individuals seeking to minors or vulnerable adults.
- SB 30 was enacted during the 2026 General Session of the Utah State Legislature, addressing human trafficking, exploitation, and smuggling. 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.
Criminal defendants and offenders
Individuals facing prosecution or background checks are subject to newly structured offenses, revised felony penalties, and updated registry requirements.
Law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies
Agencies must enforce updated human trafficking, smuggling, and patronizing statutes and follow revised investigation procedures.
Child and vulnerable adult service providers
Program applicants and employees undergo revised background check standards and disqualification rules for direct access positions.
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 new criminal offenses are created by this bill?
When does this legislation take effect?
How does the bill affect background checks for individuals working with children or vulnerable adults?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
49 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 3, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 43 earlier actions
- Mar 3, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 27, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 27, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Feb 27, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 27, 2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 26, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 24, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 24, 2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
- Feb 3, 2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Feb 2, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0030S01
- Feb 2, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0030S01
- Feb 2, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 2, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 2, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0030S01
- Jan 29, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Jan 27, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0030S01
- Jan 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0030S01
- Jan 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0030S01
- Jan 22, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 21, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Jan 21, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Jan 21, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Jan 21, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Jan 20, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Jan 20, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Jan 20, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 20, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 20, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0030
- Jan 20, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0030
- Jan 7, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Dec 16, 2025Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0030
- Dec 16, 2025Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0030
- Dec 16, 2025Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 16, 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 →Voting Record
House/ passed 3rd reading
Total
75
- Yes
- 42
- No
- 7
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 26
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (1)
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.
Comprehensive Restructuring of Human Trafficking Laws
The bill systematically updates dozens of Utah Code sections spanning criminal law, juvenile code, background checks, and civil remedies to align trafficking and smuggling offenses.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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