[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6364223,"mediaKeyId","2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330","parentId",2165121,"title","Committee approves HB 87 to increase penalties for large fentanyl trafficking; sponsors describe presumptive prison policy","audioSeconds",1947,"startMs",2105000,"endMs",4052000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330&start=2105&end=4052","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330/thumbnail_2105000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364223/Utah/Committee-approves-HB-87-to-increase-penalties-for-large-fentanyl-trafficking-sponsors-describe-presumptive-prison-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364223-b1e20b17016838f3d227ed811d02d2e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914070&Signature=numAucfq8oootn6m6YJNcFbdtQew4SHMRbEUrwN1MFkb7OVazjiitJ~YlB914cqaDta7mEDqyF85qMv-5eAV1EN6Pfx5jxlelv7HiN9L~3l7Ta5E6TP8zvosSW8-OeNDg7xr3BgskUcxRGflDs8G8FADqNq1hZSw6lUcXscsUsDP80MpptEArhR-hg3YLCGsMs-jW3gx42sZ00CGomml6yLv776jHk~YxzEagDwFviyS21ZykKunJTn4XFQ1yiwXszCw1DhI2lGDFwBbme9jk61Fpw~hatzkQjrheIwJ8taEjyeQh-WvNi4VtCOEcVPABM93hbpF2XMGYW6ZzS4yWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 87, a bill that raises penalties for large-scale fentanyl trafficking, advanced out of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee after the committee adopted a first substitute, approved an amendment, and then passed the measure by voice vote.

Representative Gwynn, the bill sponsor, framed the bill as an urgent response to a sharp rise in opioid and fentanyl deaths in Utah. He told the committee fentanyl is extremely potent—“Fentanyl can be lethal, I believe, at 2 milligrams” and that carfentanil, an even stronger opioid, “can be lethal at 2 micrograms.” He said last year law enforcement seized more than 2,000,000 fentanyl tablets in the state and described Utah as an end destination for the drug rather than a transit state.

The bill as described in committee raises trafficking of 100 grams or more of fentanyl (sponsor equated 100 grams to roughly 1,000 tablets in committee remarks) to a first-degree felony and creates a rebuttable presumption of prison. Sponsor remarks said judges may depart from the presumption if they put on the record clear reasons for doing so.

Supporters who testified included the Defense Lawyers Association (which said the sponsor incorporated defense concerns into the bill), the Victim Services Commission, the Utah PTA, the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Unified Police Department, the Sentencing Commission and the Utah Highway Patrol. Several witnesses described personal or community loss from opioid overdoses. A member of the public told the committee a relative died from methamphetamine and fentanyl exposure.

Dan Strong of the Sentencing Commission explained the amendment resolved technical issues about supervision length and alignment with existing supervision guidelines so judges and probation officials would not face conflict with administrative supervision rules.

Representative Peterson moved the substitute and later moved the amendment; the committee approved both motions and then approved the final motion to pass HB 87 as amended by voice votes. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

The bill’s final statutory language, fiscal notes and sentencing table should be checked in the official bill file; committee discussion focused on the policy rationale, the weight threshold (100 grams), the presumption of prison, and supervision-length technical fixes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee - January 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee adopted a first substitute and an amendment, and passed HB 87 as amended. The bill makes trafficking 100 grams or more of fentanyl a first-degree felony with a presumptive prison sentence, sponsors said, and the measure received broad support from law enforcement, victim advocates and prosecutors in committee testimony.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364228,"Committee clarifies school weapons law with HB 128, committee gives favorable recommendation",81,1827000,1908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330&start=1827&end=1908","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330/thumbnail_1827000.jpg","/articles/6364228/Utah/Committee-clarifies-school-weapons-law-with-HB-128-committee-gives-favorable-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364228-fa1d19898d9180203c5f7fb631f7c75e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914070&Signature=evj06uOHHZX8OjaA02Unp43xfXtJH4Br0mgpKgnpy1oQ5FCLT79WOfGm1Hp4yjrjRrsY2a~yizJLdUiVA0boEqAJ8755fbzvbnbiA33ZXM-VCv2y3wXMZfMOoJNcKYu~G5RPBWmflEWHmC8-tZFff8gsbVr6XNdw22mIiuy7BqY~MccZruOsD8-yaUhUSfMv6cyj8g2MbsqmuGXU-x42RF8LzCaGLI93DtpRH~Udo9PRe~qrcDDiMYKQ8If77nPAxgOFtIo7354tbehELnCoHWzMAi34JyvAuHflUKSNcVf~58xCT4gaVW6bWE2rDHvLSlfAnRhbn2n6ZDgtD0Pqyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 128, titled Dangerous Weapon at School Amendments, received a favorable recommendation from the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee after a brief presentation and limited comment.

Representative Glenn, who presented the bill, said the measure “doesn't do anything but make some clarification” and is intended to close a potential loophole that prosecutors identified concerning juvenile possession of firearms at school.

Christopher Ballard, an attorney with the Utah County Attorney's Office appearing on behalf of the Statewide Association of Prosecutors, told the committee the association supports the bill. “We can confirm that there has been confusion among prosecutors about being able to prosecute a juvenile that brings a firearm to school,” Ballard said, and the association “welcome[d] this clarification.”

Representative Shepherd moved to pass the bill out favorably; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the committee transcript.

The bill’s core effect on the statute is to remove ambiguity about prosecutorial authority; the transcript does not include precise statutory language or any appropriation tied to the bill.","The committee unanimously passed HB 128, which clarifies existing law so prosecutors can pursue juveniles who bring firearms to school. Prosecutors said the bill resolves confusion about charging authority.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364233,"Committee advances HB 40 with substitute to tighten school safety, cybersecurity and training requirements",1040,759000,1799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330&start=759&end=1799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330/thumbnail_759000.jpg","/articles/6364233/Utah/Committee-advances-HB-40-with-substitute-to-tighten-school-safety-cybersecurity-and-training-requirements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364233-575709b2d6a3477451d9dafd13291aac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914070&Signature=G79j2SPTreurCjT4V6JRZNIKPTVMI9HUaWFCiK2tAqAZMFJveRMxUeJ25uWFuyzesY--tNmXvZHIKIJ3XPj59eNCRrDqmThQ~qk-yzUn8hCft-Ucn5Byp1LKpCcEfdYboTRHfEKLbqXvx8iDJtQjVlo-LUWw3RLYANShjEBxZ1pgsA1dkKROeNg03j0ZbJ5yR-qT1ld7E3rQkVsnBHldqBJvBHCHXA5qz~rSh6s0bD-1qONvHrkXWvmaUMMnNykOmObQR249WC7LPB8AsDHdOJ-7CbEzRstqh~3c95JaWT2pLetJ9diQnSaOmI8bYL6~94mxjozAsf--SqfqmpivGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on voice votes adopted a substitute for House Bill 40 and voted to pass the bill out favorably. Sponsors and law enforcement and education officials described the measure as the product of a multi-year task force and statewide collaboration.

Representative Wilcox, the bill sponsor, described HB 40 as “the follow-up to the bills that we've worked on in school security for the past 3 years.” He said the bill moves school safety needs assessments to an earlier deadline — October 15 — so state policymakers can use that data in budget processes. Wilcox said the measure also directs the state security chief to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for schools after recent data breaches, including incidents involving PowerSchool and Granite School District.

Chief Matt Pennington of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of State Security testified in support and described repeated stakeholder outreach. “Everyone seems to be supportive,” Pennington told the committee, noting ongoing work with districts and school leaders.

The bill expands training requirements, moving certain training to an annual cadence, clarifies county security chief roles for local law enforcement, requires planning for AEDs and key access for first responders, and adds simpler in-room identifiers to speed emergency response, the sponsor said. Wilcox also said the Legislature moved some items “above the line” in budgeting: the task force previously funded bleed kits and first-aid supplies so districts would not need to apply for grants for those items.

Witnesses who spoke in favor included Brian William, chief of the Lone Peak Police Department and president of the Utah Chiefs of Police Association, and Chantal CODA, director of school safety and student services at the Utah State Board of Education, who described collaborative work with the sponsor. Representative Ballard moved adoption of the substitute and the committee approved both the substitute and the motion to pass the bill out favorably by voice votes.

Wilcox noted the proposal builds on previous work and represents a broad stakeholder effort. The committee did not record roll-call vote tallies in the transcript.","The committee adopted a first substitute of HB 40 and passed it out favorably. The bill updates school safety needs assessments, sets an earlier October 15 deadline for assessments, requires minimum cybersecurity standards, expands annual training, and funds items such as bleed kits and AED planning.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6364237,"Committee advances HB 96 to toughen penalties for hiding vehicles from repossession",615,91000,706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330&start=91&end=706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165121-491f20e8901c3115af949cf5f9e6b330/thumbnail_91000.jpg","/articles/6364237/Utah/Committee-advances-HB-96-to-toughen-penalties-for-hiding-vehicles-from-repossession","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364237-9ad4add5b9247a62e6a66e81a1db6fcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770914070&Signature=N8v~RHxgkihQRTSvA8OSDgqR8TvATEd30XGUucLm4ykZAOxmyXnVudnJBe3qcAXpdeFxW8PunjJWgmFtzz8XJE9ZzgLua5cfg7aw4t6fQsoL-Pu9xIzvgEdD3819XMFhmF5M2DGxAkWAf4lGByxhQtzs-o1159R1G8mOxam~kgf0vmTYRHeJqY~ZGIX2NbRMg8DZqpbWoqhkjvod6b2TervgzI1sjSL8EqWqewJHdyPowVuIa6P9BxqOx1-hMs~i4Uhk4xuiQgjth2lx66YcxvcgRXvFYSvJ7lRzzqOfs5jTdAPwtHJge~Tqzt1uirnsoflLlNjwGhXK24GpiRF94g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on voice vote on [date not specified] passed House Bill 96, a bill amending the state fraud statute to target people who purposefully conceal or obstruct lawful repossession of vehicles and other assets.

Representative Paul Cutler, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is aimed at “those who are purposefully hindering lawful repossession of an asset.” He said the change narrows the statute to avoid criminalizing individuals who missed payments on consumer items and instead focuses on organized or intentional schemes to conceal collateral.

The bill creates a tiered penalty structure similar to neighboring states, Cutler said, so that small-dollar incidents remain lower-level offenses while larger, organized schemes could be charged as felonies. “We’ve clarified to focus purposefully the language on those who are purposefully hindering lawful repossession of an asset,” Cutler said.

Rusty Cannon of the Utah Credit Union Association testified in support, saying the association’s members are seeing losses tied to collateral that cannot be located. “The amount actually is well over 20,000,000 just in Utah credit unions in the state,” Cannon said of outstanding loans affected; he added the dollar figure rises if banks are included and noted lenders typically assign loans for repossession after 90 days past due.

Representative Ballard moved the favorable recommendation; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The bill text and handout provided to the committee compare Utah’s proposal to statutes in neighboring states and adopt a tiered penalty approach. No specific dollar thresholds or the exact felony threshold language were stated on the record during the committee discussion and are not specified here.

Action on the bill is now recorded as a committee favorable recommendation; further floor action or amendments may follow in subsequent legislative steps.

\"This would hopefully allow greater enforcement and alleviate the losses that are being incurred,\" Cannon said in support.

Copies of the bill and the committee handout were referenced during the hearing; the committee directed staff to include the bill on the committee’s outgoing report.","The House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee voted to pass HB 96, a bill that revises the fraud statute to target people who purposefully conceal collateral to avoid repossession, creating a tiered penalty system to allow prosecutors to pursue more serious cases as felonies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves HB 87 to increase penalties for large fentanyl trafficking; sponsors describe presumptive prison policy

Committee clarifies school weapons law with HB 128, committee gives favorable recommendation

Committee advances HB 40 with substitute to tighten school safety, cybersecurity and training requirements

Committee advances HB 96 to toughen penalties for hiding vehicles from repossession