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H.B. 59

Signed into Law

Identification Verification Amendments

HB0059S05 (Substitute)

View on le.utah.gov
H.B. 59Signed into Law

Identification Verification Amendments

House
Senate
Governor

What This Bill Does

This bill amends provisions relating to identification verification.

Key Provisions

This bill:

  • provides that an authorized person shall verify proof of age for an individual who appears to be 35 years old or younger before the individual procures an alcoholic product at a restaurant;
  • provides that an off-premise beer retailer, a state store, or a package agency shall request proof of age from each patron;
  • requires that an off-premise beer retailer, a state store, or a package agency verify that an individual is not an interdicted person if the individual provides a Utah driver license as a proof of age;
  • provides that an authorized person shall verify proof of age for each individual before the individual gains admittance to a bar or tavern or purchases beer from an off-premise beer retailer;
  • authorizes an authorized person to temporarily confiscate a proof of age the authorized person determines is fake;
  • provides that when a court designates an individual as an interdicted person, the court may require the individual to surrender the individual's Utah driver license or Utah identification card;
  • provides that an individual who voluntarily applies for a driver license or an identification card with an interdicted person qualifier is not required to pay an administrative fee imposed by the Driver License Division;
  • provides a coordination clause between this bill and H.B. 597, Alcohol Amendments; and
  • makes technical changes.

Plain-Language Summary

AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.

Across several Utah laws governing alcohol sales, this bill tightens age and identity verification requirements at bars, restaurants, state liquor stores, package agencies, and off-premise beer retailers (like grocery or convenience stores). Restaurants must now card anyone who appears to be 35 or younger before serving alcohol, while bars and beer retailers must check the ID of every patron without exception. When someone presents a Utah driver license, retailers and bars must also electronically verify that the person has not been designated an "interdicted person" — meaning a court has restricted them from purchasing alcohol, typically as a consequence of a DUI conviction. The bill also authorizes staff to temporarily hold a fake ID and call law enforcement, allows courts to require DUI offenders designated as interdicted persons to surrender their Utah driver license or ID card, and waives the administrative fee for anyone who voluntarily requests a driver license or ID card marked with the interdicted person designation.

Cosponsors (2)

J. Koford
T. Auxier