This bill distinguishes recovery operations from normal towing operations and creates requirements for the operation and payment of recovery operators.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently treats all vehicle towing the same way, but this bill would create a legal distinction between a standard "towing operation" — moving a vehicle that is accessible and can be handled with normal equipment — and a "recovery operation," which involves extracting or stabilizing a vehicle that is overturned, stuck in mud, snow, or a ditch, submerged in water, or otherwise inaccessible to regular tow trucks. For police-ordered recoveries involving commercial vehicles, the bill would require the commercial vehicle's insurer to pay the recovery company directly, either the full invoiced amount or a partial payment (the lesser of 75% of the bill or $40,000) within 60 days, with any disputed balance resolved first through mediation and then binding arbitration; during a dispute, the insurer would post a bond covering the unpaid balance, and the recovery company would be required to release the vehicle once the bond is posted. Commercial vehicle insurance policies would be required to include a specific endorsement covering at least $40,000 in recovery operation costs unless a full-coverage policy already provides that amount, and this coverage requirement would apply specifically to recoveries ordered by police or other law enforcement. The bill would also require local towing dispatch systems to track which towing companies are qualified to perform recovery operations, so that the right type of company is sent depending on whether a situation calls for standard towing or specialized recovery work, and these changes would take effect May 5, 2027.
Current version: HB0336S02 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 23
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 11
House Floor Vote
Feb 20
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 26
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 6
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 6
House Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 19
IntroductionJan 23
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 11
House Floor VoteFeb 20
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 26
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 6
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 6
House ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 19
This bill distinguishes recovery operations from normal towing operations and creates requirements for the operation and payment of recovery operators.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah law currently treats all vehicle towing the same way, but this bill would create a legal distinction between a standard "towing operation" — moving a vehicle that is accessible and can be handled with normal equipment — and a "recovery operation," which involves extracting or stabilizing a vehicle that is overturned, stuck in mud, snow, or a ditch, submerged in water, or otherwise inaccessible to regular tow trucks. For police-ordered recoveries involving commercial vehicles, the bill would require the commercial vehicle's insurer to pay the recovery company directly, either the full invoiced amount or a partial payment (the lesser of 75% of the bill or $40,000) within 60 days, with any disputed balance resolved first through mediation and then binding arbitration; during a dispute, the insurer would post a bond covering the unpaid balance, and the recovery company would be required to release the vehicle once the bond is posted. Commercial vehicle insurance policies would be required to include a specific endorsement covering at least $40,000 in recovery operation costs unless a full-coverage policy already provides that amount, and this coverage requirement would apply specifically to recoveries ordered by police or other law enforcement. The bill would also require local towing dispatch systems to track which towing companies are qualified to perform recovery operations, so that the right type of company is sent depending on whether a situation calls for standard towing or specialized recovery work, and these changes would take effect May 5, 2027.
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