This bill amends the Electronic Information Privacy Act.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's Electronic Information Privacy Act currently requires law enforcement to get a warrant before accessing people's digital location data, stored files, or online communications held by tech companies, and states that this warrant process is the only lawful way to obtain such information, including a ban on agencies using third parties to get around these rules. A recent substitute keeps these core protections but adds new exceptions: law enforcement could obtain protected electronic information without following Utah's warrant requirements if it comes from a federal, out-of-state, or foreign law enforcement agency that legally obtained it under that jurisdiction's own rules, if it's shared through a formal joint task force or interagency agreement, or if the requesting agency confirms the other agency's process met Utah's legal standard. The substitute also clarifies that the Act does not limit access to public records, certain employer/whistleblower information, information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or information obtained from third-party data aggregators that is otherwise legally or publicly accessible. As before, the bill specifies that any digital information obtained in violation of these rules, along with evidence derived from it, must be excluded from criminal cases just as if it had been obtained in violation of constitutional search-and-seizure protections.
Current version: HB0261S02 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 11
House Floor Vote
Feb 19
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 25
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 24
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 11
House Floor VoteFeb 19
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 25
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 5
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 6
Governor SignedMar 24
This bill amends the Electronic Information Privacy Act.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's Electronic Information Privacy Act currently requires law enforcement to get a warrant before accessing people's digital location data, stored files, or online communications held by tech companies, and states that this warrant process is the only lawful way to obtain such information, including a ban on agencies using third parties to get around these rules. A recent substitute keeps these core protections but adds new exceptions: law enforcement could obtain protected electronic information without following Utah's warrant requirements if it comes from a federal, out-of-state, or foreign law enforcement agency that legally obtained it under that jurisdiction's own rules, if it's shared through a formal joint task force or interagency agreement, or if the requesting agency confirms the other agency's process met Utah's legal standard. The substitute also clarifies that the Act does not limit access to public records, certain employer/whistleblower information, information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or information obtained from third-party data aggregators that is otherwise legally or publicly accessible. As before, the bill specifies that any digital information obtained in violation of these rules, along with evidence derived from it, must be excluded from criminal cases just as if it had been obtained in violation of constitutional search-and-seizure protections.
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