H.B. 476: Insanity Defense Amendments

What the bill does

Did not pass both chambers; the bill was filed on March 6, 2026.

This bill modifies provisions relating to the criminal defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.

• Modifies the circumstances under which a defendant may plead not guilty to a first degree or capital felony by reason of insanity
• Places the burden of proof on a defendant asserting a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity to a first degree or capital felony charge
• Modifies provisions relating to supervision, assessment, and release of a defendant committed to the Department of Health and Human Services after being found not guilty of a criminal offense by reason of insanity
• Provides that a judge presiding over the prosecution of an individual asserting the defense of not guilty by reason of insanity may exercise discretion in ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a mental examination of the defendant under certain circumstances
• Defines terms
• Makes technical changes

The description and list come from the bill's own long title as recorded by the Legislature. Read the official bill. The Ledger takes no position on it.

Subjects: Health and Human Services · Health Care · Mental Health · Judicial Administration · Insanity Defense/Competency · Judicial Operations · Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice · Department of Health and Human Services · Judges

How it moved

1. February 4, 2026 · House1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
2. February 23, 2026 · Houseto standing committeeLaw Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
3. March 3, 2026 · HouseHouse Comm - Recommends Returned to RulesLaw Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
4. March 6, 2026 · Housefiledfile for bills not passed

Steps as the Legislature recorded them; clerical and fiscal-staff entries are left out. Numbers such as 54-14-7 are yeas, nays and absent.

Fiscal note

From the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's note on H.B. 476, dated February 20, 2026. A fiscal note estimates direct costs and revenue; it is not an appropriation.

• State revenue: Enactment of this legislation could increase in dedicated credit revenue to the Attorney General by $261,500 ongoing beginning in FY 2027.
• State expenditures: Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) from the General Fund, $616,900 in FY 2027 and $1,241,900 in FY 2028 for operational, personnel costs, and evaluation costs (for approximately 50 percent of eight new cases using the insanity defense) associated with the commitment of approximately two new patients each year found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) at…
• Local government: Enactment of this legislation could cost county governments approximately $120,000 annually in litigation costs for new cases in which the insanity defense is claimed.
• Individuals and businesses: Enactment of this legislation likely will not result in direct expenditures from tax or fee changes for Utah residents and businesses.

Bill overview

Sponsor: Carol S. Moss

Senate floor sponsor: Todd Weiler

Legislature passed-list status: Not available in the saved metadata.

Passed-list membership is not a finding that a bill was signed or took effect. A bill absent from that list is not necessarily pending or defeated.

Latest recorded action

filed
Action date: March 6, 2026

The full step list is above. Find the bill in the official session list for status, hearings and committee records.

Recorded floor votes

No floor-vote records for this bill and session are available here. This does not mean no vote occurred; consult the official bill record.

Ledger coverage

No Ledger stories with an explicit source link to this bill and session are listed here.