This bill amends statutory provisions related to juvenile justice.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah schools currently must try alternative interventions—such as youth court, counseling, or truancy mediation—before referring students to law enforcement for minor offenses on campus. This bill would require schools to refer a student directly to juvenile court once that student has allegedly possessed drugs on school property for a third time, while keeping alternative interventions in place for the first two instances. The bill also reorganizes and updates the procedures schools follow when handling on-campus offenses, including requiring principals to notify a student's parent or guardian when an offense is reported, protecting the identity of the school employee who first makes a report, clarifying when school officials may search students or their belongings when investigating a drug offense, and confirming that evidence from such searches can be used in court; it further expands state data-tracking requirements to include "school-based recidivism" and repeat school referrals, and adds unlawful adolescent sexual activity and certain drug distribution offenses to the list of crimes that make a minor ineligible for a nonjudicial adjustment—an out-of-court resolution that lets a minor avoid formal court proceedings. Finally, the bill includes a coordination clause aligning its drug-related definitions with a separate bill recodifying Utah's drug laws, should both measures pass this session.
Current version: HB0188S03 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 17
House Floor Vote
Feb 23
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 27
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 5
Governor Signed
Mar 17
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 17
House Floor VoteFeb 23
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 27
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 5
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 5
Governor SignedMar 17
This bill amends statutory provisions related to juvenile justice.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah schools currently must try alternative interventions—such as youth court, counseling, or truancy mediation—before referring students to law enforcement for minor offenses on campus. This bill would require schools to refer a student directly to juvenile court once that student has allegedly possessed drugs on school property for a third time, while keeping alternative interventions in place for the first two instances. The bill also reorganizes and updates the procedures schools follow when handling on-campus offenses, including requiring principals to notify a student's parent or guardian when an offense is reported, protecting the identity of the school employee who first makes a report, clarifying when school officials may search students or their belongings when investigating a drug offense, and confirming that evidence from such searches can be used in court; it further expands state data-tracking requirements to include "school-based recidivism" and repeat school referrals, and adds unlawful adolescent sexual activity and certain drug distribution offenses to the list of crimes that make a minor ineligible for a nonjudicial adjustment—an out-of-court resolution that lets a minor avoid formal court proceedings. Finally, the bill includes a coordination clause aligning its drug-related definitions with a separate bill recodifying Utah's drug laws, should both measures pass this session.
Motion: Held in Committee
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM