All Roll Calls
Yes: 190 • No: 0
UtahH.B. 382025 General SessionHouseWALLET
Criminal Offenses Modifications
Sponsored By: Ryan D. Wilcox (Republican)
Signed by Governor
GangsControlled SubstancesCrimesLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticeSexual OffensesPunishmentFinesHuman TraffickingProstitutionTheftSentencing
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 8 costs, 2 mixed.
Group crime expands nuisance eviction grounds
Beginning May 7, 2025, nuisance rules cover crimes committed by an actor with at least two other participants, rather than three. The same lower group-size threshold applies to nuisance actions seeking eviction. Property owners and authorities gain broader grounds for action, while tenants face added eviction exposure at premises used for these crimes.
Card crime laws cover prepaid payments
Financial transaction card crime laws now cover certain prepaid cards, codes, and devices. Covered instruments are issued to consumers for a set prepaid amount and redeemable for goods or services. They may work at a merchant or through a payment card network and may be reloadable or nonreloadable.
Higher fines for buying sexual services
Patronizing prostitution is a class A misdemeanor with a minimum $5,000 fine. Two or more qualifying prior convictions make it a third-degree felony with a minimum $10,000 fine. Involving a child, or someone the actor believes is under 18, brings a second-degree felony and minimum $20,000 fine. Believing a child is 18 or older is not a defense. Courts cannot waive or suspend these fines and must require offenders to pay for and finish an approved education program.
Higher penalties for coordinated group crimes
Listed crimes committed with two or more other people can receive a one-degree penalty increase, up to a first-degree felony. The other participants must be physically present and taking part. For listed theft, fraud, and related offenses, this group route also requires travel over 50 miles from home or a qualifying prior conviction. Gang or organized-group benefit, direction, association, or status-seeking provides another route to enhanced penalties. Prosecutors must allege the enhancement, and the required findings must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt; courts retain lawful probation options.
Higher penalties for injurious sexual extortion
Aggravated sexual extortion of an adult is a first-degree felony when the victim suffers bodily injury or severe psychological injury. The injury must occur during or result from the offense. Other listed aggravated offenses against adults remain second-degree felonies; those involving children or vulnerable adults remain first-degree felonies.
More crimes count toward racketeering charges
Sexual extortion now counts as unlawful activity for Utah racketeering cases. Beginning May 7, 2025, listed gang recruitment and intimidation offenses involving minors also count, including aggravated versions. A racketeering pattern requires at least three related episodes, with the most recent within five years of a prior episode. At least one act must occur after July 31, 1981.
More prior convictions raise theft penalties
Substantially equivalent convictions from other jurisdictions, including state, federal, and military courts, now count toward higher theft offense grades. This covers theft, unauthorized possession, fuel theft, deception, extortion, receiving stolen property, and lost-property theft. It also covers service and cable theft, retail theft, and theft by custodians under repair or rental agreements. Existing conviction-count and timing rules still apply, including some routes requiring two prior offenses or a prior felony within 10 years. Retail-specific rules commonly use a five-year lookback.
Tougher penalties for selling or aiding prostitution
A prostitution violation generally remains a class B misdemeanor, but a qualifying prior conviction raises it to class A. Aiding prostitution is generally a class A misdemeanor; one qualifying prior conviction makes it a third-degree felony. Aiding includes arranging or helping prostitution, including providing premises. Every aiding conviction carries a minimum $10,000 fine that courts cannot waive or suspend. Qualifying priors include similar local offenses and substantially equivalent offenses from other jurisdictions.
Tougher shoplifting penalties after store bans
Retail theft grades use the retail value of merchandise or shopping carts. Higher grades apply after theft at the same establishment within five years and receipt of the merchant's written entry ban. Under those conditions, theft worth $500 to less than $1,500 is a third-degree felony; theft below $500 is class A. Intentionally removing a theft detector before purchase without permission is class B for merchandise below $500, or class A at $500 or more.
Updated penalties for two listed offenses
Beginning May 7, 2025, the violation in Section 76-5d-203(2) is generally a class A misdemeanor. At least two qualifying prior convictions raise it to a third-degree felony. The violation in Section 76-5d-204(2) is generally a second-degree felony with a minimum $20,000 fine. Both rules have statutory exceptions; the supplied provisions do not describe the underlying conduct or those exceptions.
Broader gang rules and tougher recruitment penalties
The gang definition now covers active groups of at least three with an identifying name, sign, or symbol and crime as their main activity. A gang-activity pattern includes at least two offenses within five years meeting the law's group and intent requirements. Recruiting a minor, or intimidating one to stay, is class A when the actor is a minor and a third-degree felony for adults. Using a dangerous weapon, causing serious bodily injury, or causing serious emotional distress raises those grades to third- and second-degree felonies, respectively. The offenses apply even if recruitment or intimidation fails. The revised recruitment section drops its separate offense for causing a minor to commit a misdemeanor.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Ryan D. Wilcox
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Melissa G. Ballard
Republican • House
Burton, J.
Affiliation unavailable
Clancy, T.
Affiliation unavailable
Gwynn, M.
Affiliation unavailable
Katy Hall
Republican • House
Jason B. Kyle
Republican • House
Lee, T.
Affiliation unavailable
Calvin R. Musselman
Republican • Senate
Candice B. Pierucci
Republican • House
Andrew Stoddard
Democratic • House
Mark A. Strong
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/5/2025
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 68 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2025
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/28/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/28/2025
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2025
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2025
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 69 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2025
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/3/2025
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 2/3/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/25/2025House/ to Governor
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/13/2025HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/13/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/7/2025Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/7/2025House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/6/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/5/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/5/2025HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ uncircled
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ circled
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
3/3/2025SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ substituted
3/3/2025SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/28/2025SenateSenate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
2/28/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/13/2025
Substitute #4
2/27/2025
Substitute #3
2/7/2025
Substitute #2
2/3/2025
Substitute #1
1/25/2025
Introduced
12/19/2024