All Roll Calls
Yes: 109 • No: 3
UtahS.B. 2902026 General SessionSenate
Victim and Witness Privacy Amendments
Sponsored By: Heidi Balderree (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Electronic PrivacyTechnologyCriminal ProcedureJudicial OperationsVictims
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Court-paid lawyers but limits for self-represented defendants
Beginning May 6, 2026, self-represented criminal defendants cannot personally access, view, search, or copy private victim or witness data. This includes defendants who have not yet hired a lawyer. When a defendant seeks access, the judge must appoint a lawyer if a search is necessary for a fair proceeding. The judge can act on the defendant’s request or the court’s own motion. The lawyer’s role is limited to searching for required electronic evidence or obtaining copies of that evidence. Appointment does not make the lawyer responsible for the whole case. The lawyer is paid under Utah’s Indigent Defense Act, even when the defendant does not qualify for that act’s assistance.
Defendants get notices about investigated devices
Beginning May 6, 2026, prosecutors must disclose required electronic evidence under Utah’s criminal court rules. When they disclose it, they must identify each device law enforcement received, searched, or downloaded during the charged-offense investigation. The notice must state whether electronic evidence came from each device and where the device came from.
Victim privacy protections limit defense access
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah protects private victim and witness data that is not evidence required for disclosure. The data must be nonpublic and carry a reasonable expectation of privacy. Agencies must use it only for legitimate law enforcement or prosecution purposes and keep it in a controlled setting. They must reasonably collect required electronic evidence and make reasonable efforts to separate it from private data. Agencies must work toward secure online review rooms that block copying, with access efforts required when technically and operationally feasible. Prosecutors generally cannot disclose intimate images in private data, though that presumption can be overcome. Private data stays under agency or court control, except through the law’s allowed access procedures. Defense lawyers can request protected copies or review data online or at the holding facility, with reasonable accommodations. Review alone does not allow copying, but lawyers can request copies of portions they identify as required electronic evidence. Lawyers can also ask a judge to allow viewing or copying for good cause. The judge weighs defense needs, review burdens, constitutional rights, privacy, and other relevant factors. Copies require a protective order governing use, sharing, and disposal; court-ordered copies also have limits on copies, viewers, and storage. Data outside law enforcement or prosecuting agencies can be obtained only through the specified court subpoena process or the victim’s voluntary release. These rules preserve constitutional rights and allow necessary sharing for victim services or notification with Utah’s victim-services and parole agencies.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Heidi Balderree
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Ariel Defay
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 61 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 26 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/2/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 3
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
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
3/4/2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
3/4/2026House/ to standing committee
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/3/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
3/3/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/11/2026
Substitute #3
3/2/2026
Substitute #2
2/23/2026
Substitute #1
2/20/2026
Introduced
2/12/2026