This resolution amends the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
This resolution:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's Rules of Civil Procedure would be revised to create a new type of court proceeding called a "district court panel," which is a group of three district court judges convened to hear and decide a single case. Under the bill, the Attorney General, the Governor, or the Legislature could trigger this three-judge process by filing a notice within 45 days of a lawsuit being filed (or within 45 days of February 13, 2026, for cases already pending), at which point the judge originally assigned to the case must stop taking any action and transfer it to the panel. The bill also sets out how parties can seek to disqualify or change a judge on such a panel — including a right for each side to request one change of judge within seven days of learning the panel's assigned judges — and specifies that if a judge on the panel is removed or changed, only that individual judge is replaced rather than the entire panel being reconvened or the case being reassigned. Separately, the bill updates the rules for transferring civil cases to Utah's Business and Chancery Court, a specialized court for business disputes, allowing a party to request such a transfer within 21 days of appearing in a case, with the district court generally required to grant the transfer unless doing so would harm the interests of justice.
Current version: SJR005S02 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 4
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 11
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 12
House Rules
Feb 12
House Committee
Feb 12
House Floor Vote
Feb 13
IntroductionJan 20
Senate Rules
Senate CommitteeFeb 4
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 11
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 12
House RulesFeb 12
House CommitteeFeb 12
House Floor VoteFeb 13
This resolution amends the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
This resolution:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's Rules of Civil Procedure would be revised to create a new type of court proceeding called a "district court panel," which is a group of three district court judges convened to hear and decide a single case. Under the bill, the Attorney General, the Governor, or the Legislature could trigger this three-judge process by filing a notice within 45 days of a lawsuit being filed (or within 45 days of February 13, 2026, for cases already pending), at which point the judge originally assigned to the case must stop taking any action and transfer it to the panel. The bill also sets out how parties can seek to disqualify or change a judge on such a panel — including a right for each side to request one change of judge within seven days of learning the panel's assigned judges — and specifies that if a judge on the panel is removed or changed, only that individual judge is replaced rather than the entire panel being reconvened or the case being reassigned. Separately, the bill updates the rules for transferring civil cases to Utah's Business and Chancery Court, a specialized court for business disputes, allowing a party to request such a transfer within 21 days of appearing in a case, with the district court generally required to grant the transfer unless doing so would harm the interests of justice.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Senate/ to Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Senate Secretary
Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
Senate Secretary
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Senate Secretary
Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM