This bill modifies provisions relating to the criminal defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's process for the insanity defense in criminal cases would be substantially revised under this bill. For first-degree or capital felony charges, a defendant claiming not guilty by reason of insanity would have to prove, with "clear and convincing evidence," that a mental condition left them unable to understand the nature of their actions or unable to recognize that those actions were wrong—shifting this burden from the prosecution to the defense. The bill narrows what counts as a qualifying "mental condition," expressly excluding personality disorders, psychopathy, sociopathy, paraphilic disorders such as pedophilia, and issues stemming solely from voluntary intoxication or substance use, while covering conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, PTSD, and other serious psychotic disorders; it also gives judges discretion, rather than a mandatory duty, to order a state mental health examination when this defense is raised, and requires at least two examinations by a forensic psychiatrist or psychologist after the defendant is first screened for competency to stand trial. For people already committed to state custody after being found not guilty by reason of insanity, the bill would extend mental health status reviews from every six to every twelve months, require review teams to include forensic specialists who weigh violence-risk factors, add victim notification when a defendant becomes eligible for discharge, and create a new process letting the state temporarily revoke and detain a conditionally released defendant who violates their release plan, followed by court hearings to decide whether the person should be redetained, kept on conditional release, or discharged.
Introduction
Feb 4
House Rules
Mar 5
House Committee
Feb 25
House Floor Vote
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
IntroductionFeb 4
House RulesMar 5
House CommitteeFeb 25
House Floor Vote
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Senate 2nd Reading
Senate 3rd Reading
Governor
This bill modifies provisions relating to the criminal defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's process for the insanity defense in criminal cases would be substantially revised under this bill. For first-degree or capital felony charges, a defendant claiming not guilty by reason of insanity would have to prove, with "clear and convincing evidence," that a mental condition left them unable to understand the nature of their actions or unable to recognize that those actions were wrong—shifting this burden from the prosecution to the defense. The bill narrows what counts as a qualifying "mental condition," expressly excluding personality disorders, psychopathy, sociopathy, paraphilic disorders such as pedophilia, and issues stemming solely from voluntary intoxication or substance use, while covering conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, PTSD, and other serious psychotic disorders; it also gives judges discretion, rather than a mandatory duty, to order a state mental health examination when this defense is raised, and requires at least two examinations by a forensic psychiatrist or psychologist after the defendant is first screened for competency to stand trial. For people already committed to state custody after being found not guilty by reason of insanity, the bill would extend mental health status reviews from every six to every twelve months, require review teams to include forensic specialists who weigh violence-risk factors, add victim notification when a defendant becomes eligible for discharge, and create a new process letting the state temporarily revoke and detain a conditionally released defendant who violates their release plan, followed by court hearings to decide whether the person should be redetained, kept on conditional release, or discharged.
Motion: Held in Committee
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
House Rules Committee
House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
House Comm - Held
House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM