This bill addresses the right to a speedy trial in a criminal case.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently guarantees criminal defendants a speedy public trial, and defendants who are in jail because they can't afford bail have been entitled to a trial within 30 days after arraignment if court schedules allow. This bill would replace that 30-day rule with a new, more detailed system: if a jailed defendant requests a speedy trial, the court must schedule it within 90 days, while a defendant who is not in custody or a crime victim who requests a speedy trial must have the case set for trial within 180 days. Courts could still push a trial past these deadlines for reasons such as case complexity, a crowded court docket, unavailability of court staff or facilities, high prosecutor caseloads, defendant-requested delays, victim objections found to have good cause, due process concerns, or the need to coordinate with a codefendant's case or a pending appeal. The bill also updates related language defining a defendant's trial rights and clarifies that bail eligibility is governed by the Utah Constitution and existing bail law.
Current version: HB0213S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
Mar 5
House Committee
Feb 2
House Floor Vote
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
IntroductionJan 20
House RulesMar 5
House CommitteeFeb 2
House Floor Vote
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
This bill addresses the right to a speedy trial in a criminal case.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently guarantees criminal defendants a speedy public trial, and defendants who are in jail because they can't afford bail have been entitled to a trial within 30 days after arraignment if court schedules allow. This bill would replace that 30-day rule with a new, more detailed system: if a jailed defendant requests a speedy trial, the court must schedule it within 90 days, while a defendant who is not in custody or a crime victim who requests a speedy trial must have the case set for trial within 180 days. Courts could still push a trial past these deadlines for reasons such as case complexity, a crowded court docket, unavailability of court staff or facilities, high prosecutor caseloads, defendant-requested delays, victim objections found to have good cause, due process concerns, or the need to coordinate with a codefendant's case or a pending appeal. The bill also updates related language defining a defendant's trial rights and clarifies that bail eligibility is governed by the Utah Constitution and existing bail law.
Motion: Held in Committee
House/ filed
House file for bills not passed
House/ strike enacting clause
Clerk of the House
House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules/ substituted
House Rules Committee
House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
House Judiciary Committee
LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0213S01
Released
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM