SB0072S01 (Substitute)
Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments
Introduction
Jan 20
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 4
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 20
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 23
House Rules
Feb 23
House Committee
Feb 25
House Floor Vote
Mar 5
Senate Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 23
This bill addresses obscene animal abuse material.
This bill:
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Utah law currently treats images or videos of sexual conduct involving animals as part of a broader definition of "pornographic" material, meaning it is regulated alongside content depicting human sexual conduct. This bill pulls animal sexual abuse and animal crushing — meaning acts where an animal is intentionally tortured, burned, drowned, or otherwise seriously harmed — out of the existing pornography framework and creates a new, separate legal category called "obscene animal abuse material." It then creates a standalone criminal offense for distributing that material, with penalties ranging from a class B misdemeanor for minors under 16 to a third degree felony for adults, and updates dozens of related laws — covering everything from school property rules to civil liability — to treat this new category the same way existing law treats pornographic material. Anyone who produces, publishes, distributes, promotes, or helps a minor distribute such content faces mandatory fines starting at $1,000 and a minimum of 30 days in jail with no ability to suspend the sentence.
Current version: SB0072S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 4
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 20
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 23
House Rules
Feb 23
House Committee
Feb 25
House Floor Vote
Mar 5
Senate Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 23
IntroductionJan 20
Senate Rules
Senate CommitteeFeb 4
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 20
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 23
House RulesFeb 23
House CommitteeFeb 25
House Floor VoteMar 5
Senate ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 23
This bill addresses obscene animal abuse material.
This bill:
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Utah law currently treats images or videos of sexual conduct involving animals as part of a broader definition of "pornographic" material, meaning it is regulated alongside content depicting human sexual conduct. This bill pulls animal sexual abuse and animal crushing — meaning acts where an animal is intentionally tortured, burned, drowned, or otherwise seriously harmed — out of the existing pornography framework and creates a new, separate legal category called "obscene animal abuse material." It then creates a standalone criminal offense for distributing that material, with penalties ranging from a class B misdemeanor for minors under 16 to a third degree felony for adults, and updates dozens of related laws — covering everything from school property rules to civil liability — to treat this new category the same way existing law treats pornographic material. Anyone who produces, publishes, distributes, promotes, or helps a minor distribute such content faces mandatory fines starting at $1,000 and a minimum of 30 days in jail with no ability to suspend the sentence.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
Senate/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Senate Secretary
Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
Senate Secretary
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Senate Secretary
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:43 PM