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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

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Utah bill tracker

S.B. 259: Evidence Declaration Amendments

2026 General Session · Originating chamber: Senate

Saved official records and Ledger coverage. The outcome below is from the Legislature’s own step list.

What the bill does

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

This bill requires a signed statement regarding evidence collected in a criminal case for a felony offense.

  • Defines terms
  • Requires certain individuals to sign a statement that evidence of a felony offense was obtained or provided in compliance with state and federal law
  • Requires a prosecuting attorney to sign a statement regarding evidentiary disclosures in a criminal case for a felony offense
  • Makes it a crime to fail to comply with the requirements of a signed statement

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: Criminal Procedure · Crimes · Judicial Operations · Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice · State Auditor

How it moved

  1. · Senate1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
  2. · Senateto standing committeeJudiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
  3. · SenateSenate Comm - Substitute RecommendationJudiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
  4. · SenateSenate Comm - Amendment RecommendationJudiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
  5. · SenateSenate Comm - Motion to Recommend FailedJudiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
  6. · SenateSenate Comm - Recommends Returned to RulesJudiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee
  7. · Senatefiledfile 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 1st Sub. S.B. 259 (Green), dated February 25, 2026. A fiscal note estimates direct costs and revenue; it is not an appropriation.

  • State revenue: To the extent that more people are convicted as a result of this legislation and pay their financial obligation, this could increase state revenue per case in the following amounts: (1) General Fund $70; (2) Court Security $38.
  • State expenditures: Enactment of this bill could cost the Office of the Attorney General $2,917,300 ongoing from the General Fund beginning in FY 2027 for estimated legal review time requirements.
  • Local government: To the extent that local prosecutors do not currently meet legal review standards outlined in this bill, in aggregate this could cost counties up to $22.5 million ongoing in attorney/paralegal time to review. Also, Enactment of this legislation could increase revenue to local governments by about $230 per case for fines/fees. Local government entities could experience the following estimated expenditures: 1.
  • Individuals and businesses: To the extent that individuals violate provisions of this legislation, this could cost certain offenders about $340 per case; however, the total amount is unknown.

Bill overview

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:

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.