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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah Overhauls Private Investigator and Bail Bond Licensing Laws, Establishing New Agency and Agent Classifications
Last action · March 17, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Todd Weiler and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
This bill repeals the existing Private Investigator Regulation Act and Bail Bond Recovery Act, replacing them with updated licensing chapters administered by the starting September 1, 2026. It establishes clear license classifications, criminal background checks, experience requirements, and operating standards for private investigators, bail recovery agents, and agencies.
Licensed private investigators, bail bond agents, and security professionals face new statutory frameworks, insurance mandates, mandatory identification rules, and local standards beginning September 1, 2026.
- Private investigators and bail bond recovery agents in Utah were previously regulated under Title 53 of the Utah Code. context
- The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) routinely administers occupational and professional licensing standards across various industries in Utah. 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.
Private Investigators
Private investigators must comply with newly established licensing classifications, background checks, surety bond requirements, and continuing education mandates under Title 58, Chapter 92.
Bail Enforcement and Recovery Agents
Bail bond agents and recovery personnel are subject to new licensing, experience, training, identification card, and law enforcement notification rules under Title 58, Chapter 93.
Division of Professional Licensing
The division assumes administrative responsibility for issuing licenses, conducting background checks, managing disciplinary proceedings, and establishing operating standards for both professions.
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
When do the new licensing changes take effect?
Which state agency administers the new private investigation and bail bond licensing acts?
Can local cities or counties pass their own rules or licensing requirements for private investigators?
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
63 actions- Mar 17, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 12, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 57 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Mar 10, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 10, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 7, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 7, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Mar 7, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Feb 27, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0149S02
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 26, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 26, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0149S02
- Feb 24, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0149S02
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0149S02
- Feb 23, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0149S01
- Feb 20, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 19, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0149S01
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 19, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 18, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 18, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 17, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 17, 2026SenateSenate/ substituted
- Feb 17, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0149S01
- Feb 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0149S01
- Feb 11, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 11, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 10, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd reading
- Feb 10, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Jan 27, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 27, 2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
- Jan 26, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Jan 23, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 23, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0149
- Jan 22, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0149
- Jan 21, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 19, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 16, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0149
- Jan 16, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0149
- Jan 16, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 16, 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.
Consolidation of Regulatory Authority
The state shifts oversight of private investigators and bail bond recovery agents away from older Department of Public Safety chapters into Title 58 under the Division of Professional Licensing.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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