Published by Paul Ivinskas · Politically neutral. No endorsements.
Thursday, November 5, 2026

Utah, on the record.

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2026 floor votes

S.B. 256: Identity Protection Modifications

3 recorded floor votes in the 2026 General Session. The bill's official page has its text, sponsors, committee votes and full history.

About this bill

Signed by the governor on March 26, 2026. This bill amends provisions related to libel and slander to address artificial intelligence and digitally manipulated content.

  • Defines terms
  • Clarifies that defamation law applies to content created through artificial intelligence or other technological means
  • Requires notice to a publisher before filing a defamation action based on digitally created content
  • Limits recovery to actual damages if the publisher removes the content within 10 days after receiving notice
  • Establishes an exclusive right to consent to the use of an individual's personal identity
  • Expands the definition of abuse of personal identity to include unauthorized distribution and trafficking in identity-replication tools

Full bill page: steps, fiscal note and sponsors · Chief sponsor Kirk A. Cullimore

Utah Senate, February 24, 2026

2nd Reading, Passage on Second · 1st Sub. SB 256
Result as recorded: Passed, Ayes 25 Nays 0 Abs 4
Official record

Yes (25)

18 Republican, 1 Forward, 6 Democratic

Absent or not voting (4)

4 Republican

Utah Senate, February 25, 2026

3rd Reading, Final Passage · 1st Sub. SB 256
Result as recorded: Passed, Ayes 26 Nays 0 Abs 3
Official record

Yes (26)

19 Republican, 1 Forward, 6 Democratic

Absent or not voting (3)

3 Republican

Utah House, March 5, 2026

Senate 3rd Reading, Final Passage · 1st Sub. SB 256
Result as recorded: Passed, Yeas 73 Nays 0 N/V 2
Listed below: the 71 who are on today's roster. Official record

Yes (69)

55 Republican, 14 Democratic

Absent or not voting (2)

2 Republican

Votes are listed as the Utah Legislature's floor vote records show them. Names are matched to today's roster, so members who have since left the Legislature aren't in the lists; the totals are the record's own. Committee votes and voice votes aren't included.