All Roll Calls
Yes: 153 • No: 1
UtahS.B. 1912026 General SessionSenateWALLET
Tow Yard Amendments
Sponsored By: Don L. Ipson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
State Tax CommissionMotor Carrier RegulationTransportationDepartment of TransportationTowingCommercial Motor Vehicle RegulationDivision of Motor Vehicles
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
New seizure rules for cars and boats
Beginning June 1, 2026, police or the division can seize vehicles, vessels, and outboard motors without a warrant in set cases, including stolen or abandoned property, defaced IDs, dishonored registration checks, and wrong, expired, suspended, or never‑established registration, as well as certain crashes and offenses. Police must seize a vehicle used in a road‑rage crime when the driver is arrested. If a car was driven without required insurance and was in a crash, seizure is required; when a driver shows insurance, officers must check the insurance database and try to verify before seizing. Officers may take a trailer needed to move a seized vessel. The officer must record the odometer reading when it is reachable. If the arrested driver is not the registered owner and the owner is at the scene, the officer may release the vehicle to that owner. The law also broadens what counts as a criminal offense for these rules.
Stronger impound-lot rules and owner protections
Beginning June 1, 2026, impound lots used by police must meet clear statewide standards. Lots need a 24‑square‑foot sign, hard‑surfaced storage, a six‑foot fence with barbed or razor wire, opaque fencing along roads, space to open doors, and a staffed on‑site office open weekdays. Lots must provide free compressed air and battery boosts. The division enforces these rules, gives written notice, and allows 30 days to fix problems before suspension; lots can appeal to the commission. Approved operators may run storage areas within 10 miles of a central office and must release a vehicle within 60 minutes of notice, or risk at least a six‑month revocation; signs must show the central office location and phone. Owners or authorized people can get life‑essential items during business hours with ID and a signed receipt; if ID is inside the car, the owner must retrieve it for verification. Before a sale, plates must be removed and sent to the division. No one may drive a stored vehicle without the owner’s written OK (short moves inside the lot are allowed); violating this is a class C misdemeanor. The commission sets rules, and standards may not limit how many lots can operate in an area.
Limits on impound-lot operators and sales
Beginning June 1, 2026, crushers, dismantlers, and salvage dealers may operate as impound lots only if they meet all impound‑lot standards. The division may require an operator who holds five or fewer vehicles in a month to tow them to another lot for centralized sales. This can add towing and handling costs for small operators.
Towing rotation limits with fair appeals
Beginning June 1, 2026, a tow‑truck motor carrier removed from a rotation in a first‑ or second‑class county cannot rejoin any such county rotation for three years. Any new carrier must be certified by the department for at least three straight years before joining a rotation. Every towing entity must offer an appeals process, and the appeal must be heard by someone who did not make the removal decision.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Don L. Ipson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Thomas W. Peterson
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/20/2026
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 25 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 69 • No: 1
House vote • 2/19/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2026
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 27 • No: 0
House vote • 1/29/2026
Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 1/29/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 1/29/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/23/2026Senate/ to Governor
3/16/2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/16/2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/5/2026SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/5/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
2/25/2026Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
2/25/2026Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
2/23/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/23/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/20/2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
2/20/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/20/2026HouseSenate/ to House
2/20/2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
2/20/2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
2/19/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/19/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ uncircled
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ circled
2/18/2026HouseHouse/ substituted
2/18/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/18/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
2/12/2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ amended
2/12/2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/11/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/5/2026
Substitute #2
2/18/2026
Amended 2/12/2026 10:02:918
2/12/2026
Substitute #1
1/29/2026
Introduced
1/23/2026