Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB476: Insanity Defense Amendments
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill modifies provisions relating to the criminal defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:
0 Insanity Defense Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Carol S. Moss Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler LONG TITLE General Description: This bill modifies provisions relating to the criminal defense of not guilty by reason of insanity. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - 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; and - makes technical changes. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 76-2-305 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 177 77-16a-301 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 184 77-16a-304 …
Sponsors
- Moss, Carol S. (D, 34) · primary sponsor
- Todd Weiler (R, 8)
Latest actions
- : House/ filed
- : House/ strike enacting clause
- : House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules
- : House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
- : House Comm - Held
- : House/ to standing committee
- : House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- : LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0476
- : LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0476
- : House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
Votes
- House Comm - Held (February 25, 2026): 7 yea, 2 nay, passed
- House Comm - Held (February 25, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Health Care, Health and Human Services, Judicial Operations, Judicial Administration, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Insanity Defense/Competency, Mental Health
Common questions
- What is HB476?
- HB476 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Insanity Defense Amendments.
- What does HB476 do?
- This bill modifies provisions relating to the criminal defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.
- What is the status of HB476?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: House/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB476?
- Moss, Carol S. (D, 34), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB476?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0476.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.