All Roll Calls
Yes: 158 • No: 0
UtahS.B. 2832026 General SessionSenate
Court Fees and Administration Amendments
Sponsored By: Todd Weiler (Republican)
Signed by Governor
JuvenilesCourtsJudicial OperationsJuvenile JusticeLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticePunishmentFines
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 4 mixed.
Counties take on court security costs
Beginning May 6, 2026, the state court administrator contracts with county sheriffs for bailiffs and building security in district and juvenile courts, within legislative funding limits. Counties must pay for security administration, supervision, travel, equipment, and training. If a court shares a facility and the sheriff is not close by, the state may contract with that other law‑enforcement agency, and the sheriff has no duty for that site.
Criminal fines and work-for-credit options
Beginning May 6, 2026, the Judicial Council sets a uniform, recommended fine schedule and updates it each year. Courts must tell you that you can do approved compensatory service instead of paying eligible fines, and they credit $12 for each hour you complete and report on time. Courts can refuse credit for work done before sentencing, work already used in another case, or work/types they ban. A court can also cut your unpaid court debt by what you paid for court‑ordered treatment if you finish it, show proof, and the court finds paying causes manifest hardship. Restitution amounts are not reduced.
More ways to post bail, new limits
Beginning May 6, 2026, you may post bail by cash, a surety bond, an unsecured bond, or a credit/debit card if the judge allows. A judge can limit the method in certain cases, like a prior failure to appear on a violent offense, failure to respond to a no‑appearance citation, a warrant for unpaid court debt (bail can be limited to the amount owed), a bail bond forfeiture, or to allow voluntary fine payment. Card payments go to the court minus bank fees. Refunds are made by the method used, and courts may apply posted money to your criminal debt before any refund.
Pay tickets without court is a conviction
Starting May 6, 2026, a citation can let you pay the recommended fine without going to court if the uniform schedule or a judge allows it. This option is for class B misdemeanors or lower, but not for domestic violence, certain DUI-related offenses, similar local offenses, or cases with a victim or restitution. When you pay this way, the court enters a conviction, the same as a no‑contest plea. If the person cited is under 18, the court mails notice to a parent or guardian. Courts may also tell you your appearance date within five to 14 days instead of requiring immediate appearance.
Extra $60 for online court filings
Beginning May 6, 2026, if your initial complaint or petition was prepared through the Online Court Assistance Program, you pay an added $60 filing surcharge. The fee funds the program’s development and operations. There is no fee to use the program itself, no added fee for papers after the first filing, and no fee for protective‑order requests.
New $60 court security surcharge
Beginning May 6, 2026, each conviction on the uniform fine schedule and each moving traffic violation adds a $60 security surcharge. Courts cannot lower fines because of this surcharge. Of the $60, $28 goes to the Court Security Account; the other $32 is split so the court keeps 20%, and the rest goes 62.5% to the county treasurer, 25% to the Court Security Account, and 12.5% to the Justice Court Technology, Security, and Training Account. The law creates the Court Security Account to fund security at courts of record, subject to appropriation. Portions of some filing fees are also directed to this and other public accounts.
New civil and small-claims filing fees
Starting May 6, 2026, courts of record charge $375 to file a civil complaint. For claims by dollar amount, fees are $105 (up to $2,000), $215 ($2,000–$9,999), and $375 ($10,000 or more). Small‑claims filings are $60 (up to $2,000), $100 ($2,000–$7,499), and $185 ($7,500 or more). Justice court fees and other listed filings are updated as set in law.
State cases: debtor pays court costs
Starting May 6, 2026, the state, its agencies, and political subdivisions do not pay justice court filing fees when filing or defending cases. If the state or a local government wins a judgment (except Office of Recovery Services cases), the judgment debtor must pay the filing fees and collection costs. Collected amounts are applied as the law directs after credit to the judgment.
Plea in abeyance: no appearance and fees
Starting May 6, 2026, if your offense is eligible for no‑appearance payment, you may enter a plea in abeyance without appearing in person. A plea in abeyance can include a nonrefundable abeyance fee plus a surcharge. Those amounts are treated like fines and cannot exceed the maximum fine and surcharge for the offense.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Todd Weiler
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Grant Amjad Miller
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 23 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 66 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 22 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/23/2026Senate/ to Governor
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/13/2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/11/2026SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/11/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/10/2026Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
3/10/2026Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/10/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ concurs with House amendment
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
3/3/2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
3/3/2026House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
3/3/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/11/2026
Substitute #1
3/2/2026
Introduced
2/10/2026