All Roll Calls
Yes: 192 • No: 3
UtahH.B. 5132026 General SessionHouse
Attorney General Funding Amendments
Sponsored By: Val L. Peterson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Public Funds and AccountsPublic BudgetingLegislative OrganizationGovernment Operations (State Issues)Attorney GeneralConstitutional OfficersCivil LitigationElected Official
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New state litigation program and closed meetings
Effective May 6, 2026, the law creates the Legal Services and Litigation Program in the Attorney General’s office. It funds civil cases that challenge state laws, involve statewide importance, or are not paid by the Risk Management Fund. Money for this program is appropriated by the Legislature and does not lapse at year end. The Attorney General must give notice when expected costs are over $100,000 but under $500,000 to the Senate President and House Speaker, and to the Governor if an executive agency is involved. The office must notify the Legislative Management Committee and the Governor when expected costs are over $500,000. Meetings of the Legislative Management Committee to discuss these notices must be closed to the public.
State agencies face new Attorney General billing rules
Effective May 6, 2026, the state creates the Legal Services Retainer Fund. Agencies deposit their agreed retainers on the July 1 after they sign a service-level agreement. Starting July 1, 2027, the Attorney General’s office bills by actual time in 15-minute blocks at hourly rates that include pay and reasonable overhead. Each year by October 1, the office and each agency agree on a retainer and report it to the budget office; they sign a detailed service-level agreement after the session. Each month, agencies get a report with time by matter, charges this month, year-to-date totals, and the retainer balance. The office uses the agency’s retainer first; if it is short, the agency must pay the rest from the funding source named in the agreement. One agency’s money cannot pay another agency’s bills. Starting July 1, 2027, these Attorney General legal-service charges are not governed by internal service fund rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Val L. Peterson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Michael K. McKell
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ motion to reconsider
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 60 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 27 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 64 • No: 2
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/19/2026House/ to Governor
3/17/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/17/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/12/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/12/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/11/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/11/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/11/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/11/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/10/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ floor amendment
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ motion to reconsider
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Amended 3/6/2026 20:03:196
3/6/2026
Substitute #1
2/26/2026
Amended 2/18/2026 11:02:829
2/18/2026
Introduced
2/9/2026