This bill addresses the unauthorized practice of law.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently prohibits unlicensed individuals from practicing law, but enforcement has been limited mainly to Utah State Bar civil actions. This bill would strengthen that enforcement by allowing courts to take immediate action when they discover someone practicing law without a license in a case before them, including awarding attorney fees to harmed parties, striking that person's filings, or referring the matter to the Bar or a prosecutor. It would also explicitly authorize the Bar to sue unlicensed practitioners for injunctions, repayment of client fees, penalties up to $10,000, and attorney fees, while giving harmed clients their own right to sue for damages and attorney fees. On the criminal side, unauthorized practice of law would become a class A misdemeanor, escalating to a third-degree felony if the person falsely claimed to be licensed, caused a client more than $1,000 in losses or serious harm to a legal right, or has a prior conviction for the same offense, and the bill sets a three-year deadline for filing civil claims while clarifying that none of this limits the Utah Supreme Court's authority over the legal profession.
Current version: HB0260S02 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Jan 28
House Floor Vote
Feb 6
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 25
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 6
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
House Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 23
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeJan 28
House Floor VoteFeb 6
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 25
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 6
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 6
House ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 23
This bill addresses the unauthorized practice of law.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently prohibits unlicensed individuals from practicing law, but enforcement has been limited mainly to Utah State Bar civil actions. This bill would strengthen that enforcement by allowing courts to take immediate action when they discover someone practicing law without a license in a case before them, including awarding attorney fees to harmed parties, striking that person's filings, or referring the matter to the Bar or a prosecutor. It would also explicitly authorize the Bar to sue unlicensed practitioners for injunctions, repayment of client fees, penalties up to $10,000, and attorney fees, while giving harmed clients their own right to sue for damages and attorney fees. On the criminal side, unauthorized practice of law would become a class A misdemeanor, escalating to a third-degree felony if the person falsely claimed to be licensed, caused a client more than $1,000 in losses or serious harm to a legal right, or has a prior conviction for the same offense, and the bill sets a three-year deadline for filing civil claims while clarifying that none of this limits the Utah Supreme Court's authority over the legal profession.
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