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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah criminalizes transnational repression and enhances penalties for offenses directed by foreign entities
Last action · March 19, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Tyler Clancy and 2 others
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What This Bill Does
Utah enacts legislation defining and requiring the Utah Board of Higher Education to provide related information and reporting instructions to international students, effective May 6, 2026. The measure also establishes criminal s when any offense is committed at the direction of a foreign government or terrorist organization to coerce victims.
International students gain specific reporting resources through their universities, while individuals convicted of crimes committed under the direction of foreign governments or terrorist organizations face increased felony or misdemeanor classifications.
- Transnational repression involves foreign governments or their agents intimidating, harassing, or threatening dissidents, journalists, or students living outside their home countries. 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.
International students
International students will receive mandatory information and reporting resources regarding transnational repression from their higher education institutions.
Institutions of higher education
Higher education institutions must disseminate information on transnational repression and reporting procedures to international students as directed by the Utah Board of Higher Education.
Individuals accused of crimes under foreign direction
Individuals who commit criminal offenses under the direction of foreign governments or terrorist organizations face mandatory criminal penalty enhancements.
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 transnational repression under this law?
How does the law affect criminal penalties?
What are higher education institutions required to do?
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
43 actions- Mar 19, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 17, 2026HouseHouse/ to Governor
- Mar 17, 2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 12, 2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12, 2026Clerk of the HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 37 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from House for Enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
- Mar 6, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 27, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 25, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 25, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 23, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0547S01
- Feb 23, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 23, 2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted/ Consent Calendar
- Feb 23, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0547S01
- Feb 23, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
- Feb 23, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 23, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 20, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0547S01
- Feb 20, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0547S01
- Feb 19, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 13, 2026HouseHouse/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Feb 13, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0547
- Feb 13, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0547
- Feb 11, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 11, 2026HouseHouse/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Feb 11, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0547
- Feb 11, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0547
- Feb 11, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 11, 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.
Establishment of Transnational Repression Statutory Framework
The state introduces a formalized legal definition of transnational repression and pairs it directly with higher education reporting mandates and criminal penalty enhancements.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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