All Roll Calls
Yes: 143 • No: 3
UtahS.B. 272026 General SessionSenate
Assault or Threat of Violence Amendments
Sponsored By: Don L. Ipson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Peace OfficersCrimesLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticeVeterans and Military AffairsPublic SafetyAssault and Battery
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Expanded protections for officers and families
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah expands its crime covering intentional assaults or threats against peace officers and their families. Covered officers include certified, correctional, special-function, and federal officers. The attacker must know the victim is an officer or an officer's family member. Officers must be acting within their authority or targeted because of their status; family members must be targeted because of that status. Covered relatives include spouses, surviving spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and relatives by blood or marriage through the second degree. The crime is normally a class A misdemeanor. Qualifying prior convictions, including the new military assault-or-threat offense, or substantial bodily injury make it a third-degree felony. A dangerous weapon or other means likely to cause death or serious bodily injury makes it a second-degree felony. Second offenses require at least 90 consecutive days in confinement; each later offense requires at least 180. Courts can suspend these minimums only with the required findings. Constitutional speech and assembly rights remain protected.
Murder charges expand for deadly military assaults
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah expands murder liability for recklessly causing a military service member's death. The death must occur while committing or attempting the new military assault offense. That offense requires knowing the victim's military connection and attacking a member acting within their authority or because of military status. The murder rule no longer requires the service member to be in uniform. Murder is a first-degree felony carrying a prison term of at least 15 years, up to life.
New penalties for attacking military families
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah creates a separate crime for intentional assaults or threats against military members and their families. It covers the U.S. armed forces, National Guard, and State Defense Force. The attacker must know the victim's military connection. Members must be acting within their authority or targeted because of military status; family members must be targeted because of that status. Covered relatives include spouses, surviving spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and relatives by blood or marriage through the second degree. The crime is normally a class A misdemeanor. A prior qualifying military or peace-officer assault conviction, or substantial bodily injury, makes it a third-degree felony. A dangerous weapon or other means likely to cause death or serious bodily injury makes it a second-degree felony. Second offenses require at least 90 consecutive days in confinement; each later offense requires at least 180. Courts can suspend these minimums in the interests of justice with specific findings on the record. The new offense also qualifies for hate-crime penalty increases when the law's bias or intimidation requirements apply. Constitutional speech and assembly rights remain protected.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Don L. Ipson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Gwynn, Matthew H.
Affiliation unavailable
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/6/2026
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 26 • No: 3
Senate vote • 2/6/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/6/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/5/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 70 • No: 0
House vote • 2/2/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • 2/2/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/20/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 28 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/23/2026Senate/ to Governor
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
2/11/2026SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
2/11/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
2/10/2026Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
2/10/2026Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
2/9/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/9/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/6/2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
2/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House
2/6/2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
2/6/2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
2/6/2026SenateSenate/ circled
2/6/2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/5/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/5/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/5/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/5/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
2/3/2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
2/3/2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/2/2026House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
2/2/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
2/11/2026
Substitute #1
1/22/2026
Introduced
12/5/2025