All Roll Calls
Yes: 153 • No: 1
UtahS.B. 1912026 General SessionSenate
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
7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
Owners get stronger impounded property protections
Beginning June 1, 2026, authorized people can retrieve life-essential items and other belongings from impounded vehicles, boats, or outboard motors. They must come during normal business hours, show government-issued identification and proof of authorization, and sign a receipt. The lot must record who gets access and retrieve identification left inside the vehicle to verify authorization. Operating a stored vehicle requires the owner's written permission, except for necessary moves between parking spaces for normal lot management. Unauthorized use is a class C misdemeanor.
Tow businesses face three-year rotation limits
Beginning June 1, 2026, tow carriers need at least three consecutive years of Utah transportation department certification before joining a rotation in a first- or second-class county. Anyone owning any percentage of a carrier removed from a rotation in one of those counties faces a three-year ban. The ban starts on the carrier's removal date and blocks joining rotations in either county class.
Impound lots face stricter service standards
Beginning June 1, 2026, Utah impound lots must provide compressed air and battery boosts to owners at no charge. Signs must cover at least 24 square feet, with letters at least 4 inches high, and be visible from the nearest highway. Signs must show the business name, address, phone, hours, and lot identification number. Storage must have hard surfaces, room to open vehicle doors, and fencing separating it from unrelated activities: at least six-foot chain-link or equivalent topped with barbed or razor wire, plus opaque frontage fencing along paved class A, B, or C roads. Lots generally need an on-site office staffed during normal weekday business hours; approved central-office arrangements are excepted, and crushers, dismantlers, and salvage dealers must meet all lot requirements.
Multi-site impound lots face release deadlines
Beginning June 1, 2026, the Motor Vehicle Division may approve one central office for multiple impound storage sites. Operators must request approval, and each site must be within a 10-mile radius of the office. Site signs must give the central office's location and phone number. After notice to release a vehicle, the operator must appear at the storage site within 60 minutes. Failure to appear may lead to loss of impound-lot approval for at least six months.
Tow businesses gain independent removal appeals
Beginning June 1, 2026, towing entities and state agencies with rotations for tows they initiate must provide an appeals process. Tow carriers and operators can appeal decisions suspending or removing them from the rotation. One officer or a panel may hear the appeal. Anyone who made the original decision cannot hear the appeal.
Impound operators face new sale duties
Beginning June 1, 2026, impound operators must remove a vehicle's license plates before selling it. They must give the plates to the Motor Vehicle Division when the vehicle is sold. The Division may require a lot holding five or fewer vehicles in a month to tow them to another impound lot. This allows centralized vehicle sales, but the law does not say who pays for that towing.
Impound lots get notice and appeals
Beginning June 1, 2026, the Motor Vehicle Division enforces impound-lot standards. It must deliver written notice in person or by certified mail and give operators 30 days to fix violations. If an operator takes no action or insufficient action, the Division may suspend the lot's approval. Lots may appeal suspensions to the commission, or appeal denied designation when directly and adversely affected. The commission must set standards for garages and lots storing seized vehicles, boats, or outboard motors; Division rules cannot conflict with statutory standards or limit the number of sites in an area.
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/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 69 • No: 1
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 - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 27 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/29/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/29/2026
Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate 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