Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah SB316: Public Employee Attorney Fee Recovery Amendments
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
This bill amends a provision of law relating to the recovery of reasonable attorney fees and court costs incurred by an officer or employee of a public entity, under certain circumstances, to defend against criminal charges brought against the officer or employee in relation to the officer's or employee's public employment.
What the bill says
From the substitute text, March 6, 2026:
0 Public Employee Attorney Fee Recovery Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Pitcher House Sponsor: Andrew Stoddard LONG TITLE General Description: This bill amends a provision of law relating to the recovery of reasonable attorney fees and court costs incurred by an officer or employee of a public entity, under certain circumstances, to defend against criminal charges brought against the officer or employee in relation to the officer's or employee's public employment. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - provides that a court may order certain public entities to pay the reasonable attorney fees and court costs incurred in defending against a criminal charge brought in connection with the officer's or employee's public employment, if the court finds that the public entities acted in bad faith. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: REPEALS AND REENACTS: 52-6-201 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 444 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 52-6-201 is repealed and reenacted to read: 52-6-201 . Indictment or information against officer or employee -- Reimbursement of attorney fees and court costs incurred in defense. (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a court in which a criminal charge is, by indictment or information, brought against an …
Sponsors
- Stephanie Pitcher (D, 14) · primary sponsor
- Stoddard, Andrew (D, 40)
Latest actions
- : Senate/ filed
- : Senate/ received from House
- : House/ to Senate
- : House/ strike enacting clause
- : House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
- : LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0316S02
- : LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0316S02
- : LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0316S02
- : LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0316S02
- : House/ 2nd reading
Votes
- Senate/ passed 3rd reading (March 3, 2026): 26 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 2nd reading (March 2, 2026): 20 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (March 2, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Government Operations (State Issues), Courts, Administrative Rulemaking and Procedures, State Officers and Employees, Judicial Operations, Judicial Administration, Administrative Rulemaking, Civil Litigation
Common questions
- What is SB316?
- SB316 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Public Employee Attorney Fee Recovery Amendments.
- What does SB316 do?
- This bill amends a provision of law relating to the recovery of reasonable attorney fees and court costs incurred by an officer or employee of a public entity, under certain circumstances, to defend against criminal charges brought against the officer or employee in relation to the officer's or employee's public employment.
- What is the status of SB316?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: Senate/ filed (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB316?
- Stephanie Pitcher (D, 14), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB316?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0316.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.