All Roll Calls
Yes: 149 • No: 0
UtahS.B. 722026 General SessionSenateWALLET
Obscene Animal Abuse Material Amendments
Sponsored By: Evan J. Vickers (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AnimalsAbuse, Neglect, or DependencyCrimesLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticePornographySexual OffensesFines
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 3 costs, 2 mixed.
Victims gain claims against repeated distribution
Distributing obscene animal abuse material now counts toward Utah’s racketeering law. A qualifying pattern needs at least three related, non-isolated episodes. The latest episode must occur within five years of the preceding episode. People injured by a covered pattern can seek double damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees, subject to court-order safeguards. Courts can also stop activities or order business divestiture or dissolution; civil claims have a three-year filing limit after conduct ends or the claim arises.
Families gain claims for harmful content
Beginning May 6, 2026, civil claims cover obscene animal abuse material or pornography viewed by a minor under 18. The material must directly cause physical, psychological, emotional, or medical harm, and the provider must not be exempt. Existing liability protections remain for a clear warning before access plus a good-faith age check. An alternative protection uses reasonable recipient-location efforts and warning labels or metadata, with greater than 75% compliance. Its lookback is the shorter of six months before the claim or the period since May 12, 2020; VPN-masked recipients are excluded. Qualifying video-game ratings with explicit content warnings also provide protection, and the law sets no damages amount.
Warning penalties exclude coerced content sharers
Beginning May 6, 2026, covered providers must give a clear, reasonable warning before distributing material or performances defined as obscene. Violations can bring up to $2,500 each in civil penalties, filing and attorney fees, and an injunction. The warning-enforcement section excludes people portrayed in obscene animal abuse material created, copied, or distributed without their knowledge or consent. It also excludes people coerced or blackmailed into distributing the material.
Landlords gain rights but face penalties
Owners and intermediate lessors face a class A misdemeanor for knowingly allowing covered distribution or exhibition on their property. This requires a prior chapter conviction there involving a tenant, occupant, or employee, with direct appeals exhausted or abandoned. A fine unpaid 30 days after judgment becomes a property lien. Owners or lessors can exercise an option to void the lease or other title for the covered property use. Tenants or occupants face a class A misdemeanor unless they permanently leave within 10 days after receiving written notice.
Communities gain local content regulation powers
Utah counties, cities, and other local governments can regulate obscene animal abuse material. Local rules can cover zoning, licenses, public nuisances, certain businesses, or display racks that hide material from view. This authority does not itself set a statewide household fee.
Limited protections for services and professionals
Listed internet, communications, video, hosting, and game-software services are exempt when distribution is only incidental to transmission, connections, storage, or caching. They must not intentionally help distribute the material; relevant internet and hosting exceptions also bar knowing payments that facilitate distribution. Restricted sharing with people or institutions having scientific, educational, government, or similar reasons provides a defense against prosecution. That defense does not cover unrestricted sharing. Utah’s corrections department and its operated or contracted treatment programs are exempt only for offender assessment or treatment.
Criminal penalties for animal abuse distributors
The law criminalizes distributing, exhibiting, publishing, or promoting obscene animal abuse material, and preparing or possessing it for distribution. Adults age 18 or older face a third-degree felony, at least 30 days in jail, and minimum fines. The minimum fine is $1,000 plus $10 per article exhibited, subject to applicable statutory caps. Ages 16–17 face a class A misdemeanor; those under 16 face a class B misdemeanor. Adults who knowingly help minors distribute it face the same felony minimums. Those minimums also apply to knowingly forcing acceptance in resale deals or threatening franchises or penalties for refusal. Each qualifying distribution act or day of public exhibition counts separately.
Utah restricts defined animal abuse material
Utah’s restrictions cover material showing animal crushing or sexual conduct with an animal only when it meets three obscenity tests. Taken as a whole, it must appeal to unhealthy sexual interests, be clearly offensive, and lack serious value. Serious value includes literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Related protections for minors use separate tests based on minors. Animal crushing excludes specified veterinary, farming, lawful slaughter, hunting, research, and life or property protection activities.
School users face animal abuse restrictions
The school-property offense now includes intentionally or knowingly creating, viewing, or accessing obscene animal abuse material. When the conduct does not amount to another listed offense, adults age 18 or older face a class A misdemeanor. People under 18 face a class B misdemeanor. School and law enforcement staff retain limited access for investigation or enforcement.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Evan J. Vickers
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Stephanie Gricius
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ concurs with House amendment
Yes: 25 • No: 0
House vote • 3/5/2026
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/5/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 63 • No: 0
House vote • 2/25/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/23/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 24 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/20/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • 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
3/12/2026SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/12/2026Draft 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/ 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
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ substituted
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
2/25/2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
2/25/2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/25/2026House/ to standing committee
2/23/2026HouseHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/23/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Substitute #1
3/2/2026
Introduced
1/5/2026