All Roll Calls
Yes: 105 • No: 1
UtahH.B. 2842026 General SessionHouse
Murder Offense Amendments
Sponsored By: A. Cory Maloy (Republican)
Signed by Governor
CrimesLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticePublic SafetyHomicide
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Changes take effect May 2026
All changes in this law take effect May 6, 2026. From that date, courts and lawyers use the new definitions, elements, sentences, and defenses.
New rules for murder charges
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah updates what counts as murder. The law lists the crimes that can trigger a murder charge during a related crime: drug labs, child abuse, kidnapping, sexual assaults, arson, burglary, robbery, escape, and firing a gun. Murder also includes intentional killing, causing death while trying to cause serious injury, acts showing depraved indifference, certain officer deaths, and some cases reduced from aggravated murder. If a death happens during a listed crime and you had the intent for that crime, prosecutors can charge murder. You can also be convicted and punished for the separate underlying crime; it does not merge with murder.
Sentencing and defenses in murder cases
Beginning May 6, 2026, a murder conviction carries at least 15 years in prison and up to life. If the judge or jury finds murder but also finds special mitigation by a preponderance of the evidence, the court must convict for manslaughter. A defendant can raise an affirmative defense if they reasonably believed the law justified their actions. If murder is proven but that defense is not disproven beyond a reasonable doubt, the court must convict for manslaughter.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
A. Cory Maloy
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Brady Brammer
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 27 • No: 1
House vote • 2/26/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 57 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/24/2026House/ to Governor
3/11/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/11/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/5/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/5/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/5/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/5/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/3/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent Calendar
2/26/2026SenateSenate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
2/26/2026Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/26/2026Senate/ to standing committee
2/23/2026SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/20/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/19/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
2/12/2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
2/12/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/5/2026
Introduced
1/19/2026