This bill amends provisions related to competency evaluations.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's process for evaluating whether a criminal defendant is mentally competent to stand trial would see several changes under this bill. When a court orders two competency evaluations, both would now have to be ordered together in the same order, and courts would gain explicit authority to order additional or updated evaluations after receiving initial reports if there's good cause, such as a change in circumstances or new information that could affect the competency determination. The bill would also allow a defendant to be temporarily transferred to a clinical or inpatient setting for evaluation if the Department of Health and Human Services recommends it, with notice given to the court and all parties, and it clarifies that certain evaluation rules don't apply to "progress toward competency" evaluations (which track a defendant's progress during restoration treatment) while also revising what those progress reports must include regarding medication. Finally, the bill creates new rules for "involuntary medication order portability," meaning that when a defendant who is being medicated without consent is transferred between facilities — such as from a jail to a psychiatric hospital — the original medication order stays in effect, but the receiving facility must have a qualified medical professional review the case, conduct a face-to-face assessment, and document that continuing the medication remains medically appropriate and the least restrictive option before proceeding, with a process for resolving situations where the prescribed medication isn't available at the new facility.
Current version: HB0207S02 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 5
House Floor Vote
Feb 17
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 27
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 5
House Concurrence
Mar 5
Governor Signed
Mar 17
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 5
House Floor VoteFeb 17
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 27
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 5
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 5
House ConcurrenceMar 5
Governor SignedMar 17
This bill amends provisions related to competency evaluations.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's process for evaluating whether a criminal defendant is mentally competent to stand trial would see several changes under this bill. When a court orders two competency evaluations, both would now have to be ordered together in the same order, and courts would gain explicit authority to order additional or updated evaluations after receiving initial reports if there's good cause, such as a change in circumstances or new information that could affect the competency determination. The bill would also allow a defendant to be temporarily transferred to a clinical or inpatient setting for evaluation if the Department of Health and Human Services recommends it, with notice given to the court and all parties, and it clarifies that certain evaluation rules don't apply to "progress toward competency" evaluations (which track a defendant's progress during restoration treatment) while also revising what those progress reports must include regarding medication. Finally, the bill creates new rules for "involuntary medication order portability," meaning that when a defendant who is being medicated without consent is transferred between facilities — such as from a jail to a psychiatric hospital — the original medication order stays in effect, but the receiving facility must have a qualified medical professional review the case, conduct a face-to-face assessment, and document that continuing the medication remains medically appropriate and the least restrictive option before proceeding, with a process for resolving situations where the prescribed medication isn't available at the new facility.
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