Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB138: Child Abuse Homicide Amendments
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill addresses the offense of child abuse homicide.
What the bill says
From the substitute text, January 22, 2026:
0 Child Abuse Homicide Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Lisa Shepherd Senate Sponsor: Daniel McCay LONG TITLE General Description: This bill addresses the offense of child abuse homicide. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - clarifies that an actor can be charged under the criminal offense of child abuse homicide if the child dies by suicide after being subjected to child abuse or child torture and the suicide is a direct or proximate result of the abuse or torture; - corrects an error in the child abuse homicide offense's penalty subsection; - adds a coordination clause to merge the changes to Section 76-5-208 if both this bill and S.B. 32, Child Abuse Homicide Corrections, pass and become law; and - makes technical and conforming changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: This bill provides a coordination clause. Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 76-5-208 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 284 Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause: 76-5-208 (05/06/26) , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 284 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: The following section is affected by a coordination clause at the end of this bill. Section 1. Section 76-5-208 is amended to read: 76-5-208 . Child abuse homicide. (1) (a) …
Sponsors
- Lisa Shepherd (R, 61) · primary sponsor
- Daniel McCay (R, 18)
Latest actions
- : House/ filed
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
- : Senate/ strike enacting clause
- : Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
- : Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- : Senate/ committee report favorable
- : Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- : Senate/ to standing committee
- : Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
Votes
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (March 4, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 23, 2026): 70 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 13, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Homicide, Crimes, Defenses, Suicide, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Mental Health
Common questions
- What is HB138?
- HB138 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Child Abuse Homicide Amendments.
- What does HB138 do?
- This bill addresses the offense of child abuse homicide.
- What is the status of HB138?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: House/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB138?
- Lisa Shepherd (R, 61), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB138?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0138.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.