HB 244

02-17 12:28  1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 244
  Lisa Shepherd proposes the following substitute bill:
1Employment Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Lisa Shepherd
  Senate Sponsor:
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill concerns an employee's voluntary cooperation with law enforcement.
6   Highlighted Provisions:
7This bill:
8▸ defines terms;
9▸ prohibits an employer from taking certain actions based on an employee's decisions
10   regarding voluntary cooperation with a law enforcement officer in specific contexts; and
11▸ provides remedies for a violation of the prohibition.
12   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
13None
14   Other Special Clauses:
15None
16   Utah Code Sections Affected:
17   ENACTS:
  1st Sub. H.B. 244
1834-58-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
1934-58-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
2034-58-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21
22   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23Section 1. Section 34-58-101 is enacted to read:
24CHAPTER 58. Employment Rights Regarding Cooperation with Law Enforcement
2534-58-101 . Definitions.
26      As used in this chapter:
27   (1) "Law enforcement agency" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53-1-102.
28   (2) "Law enforcement officer" means an individual:
 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 244  02-17 12:28
29(a) who is an employee of a law enforcement agency; and
30(b) whose primary and principal duties consist of the prevention and detection of crime
31and the enforcement of criminal or immigration statutes or ordinances of the federal
32government, this state, or a political subdivision of this state.
33Section 2. Section 34-58-102 is enacted to read:
3434-58-102 . Employment rights regarding cooperation with law enforcement.
35   (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), an employer may not:
36(a) request, require, or prohibit an employee or an applicant for employment from:
37(i) voluntarily cooperating with a law enforcement officer; or
38(ii) declining to voluntarily cooperate with a law enforcement officer, unless
39required by law; or
40(b) take adverse action, fail to hire, or otherwise penalize an employee or an applicant
41for employment for:
42(i) voluntarily cooperating with a law enforcement officer;
43(ii) declining to voluntarily cooperate with a law enforcement officer, unless required
44by law; or
45(iii) indicating that the employee or applicant intends to:
46(A) voluntarily cooperate with a law enforcement officer if requested to do so by a
47law enforcement officer; or
48(B) decline to voluntarily cooperate with a law enforcement officer if requested to
49do so by a law enforcement officer, unless required by law.
50   (2) Subsection (1) does not prevent an employer from requiring an employee to protect, or
51agree to protect, a legal right held solely by the employer in the context of an employee's
52voluntary interaction with a law enforcement officer in the course and scope of the
53employee's employment.
54Section 3. Section 34-58-103 is enacted to read:
5534-58-103 . Civil action for violation of chapter.
56   (1) An employee or an applicant for employment who is injured by an employer's violation
57of Section 34-58-102 may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
58   (2) An action brought under Subsection (1) may request relief including monetary damages,
59injunctive relief, and specific performance.
60Section 4. Effective Date.
61   This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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