SB 183

 Enrolled Copy  S.B. 183
1Surveillance Camera Amendments
                                       2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                            STATE OF UTAH
                                  Chief Sponsor: Stephanie Pitcher
                                  House Sponsor: Jordan D. Teuscher
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill concerns a law enforcement officer's ability to tamper with a surveillance camera
6  on private property.
7  Highlighted Provisions:
8      This bill:
9      ▸ prohibits a law enforcement officer, or an individual acting on behalf of a law
10  enforcement officer, from tampering with, changing the viewing direction of, or
11  disabling a person's surveillance camera on the person's private property; and
12      ▸ creates exceptions to the prohibition.
13  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14      None
15  Other Special Clauses:
16      None
17  Utah Code Sections Affected:
18  ENACTS:
19      53-25-1201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20      53-25-1202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21
22  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23Section 1. Section 53-25-1201 is enacted to read:
24Part 12. Law Enforcement Prohibitions
2553-25-1201 . Definitions.
26     Reserved.
27Section 2. Section 53-25-1202 is enacted to read:
 S.B. 183  Enrolled Copy
2853-25-1202 . Law enforcement officer prohibition on tampering with a private
29   surveillance camera -- Exceptions.
30   (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2) or (4), a law enforcement officer, or an individual
31acting on behalf of a law enforcement officer, may not tamper with, change the viewing
32direction of, or disable a person's surveillance camera that is on the person's private
33property.
34   (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the law enforcement officer, or the individual acting on
35behalf of a law enforcement officer:
36(a) obtains the person's permission before taking the action described in Subsection (1);
37(b) obtains a court order granting permission to take the action described in Subsection
38(1) before taking the action described in Subsection (1); or
39(c) takes the action described in Subsection (1) under a circumstance described in
40Subsection (3)(a) if the law enforcement officer, or the individual acting on behalf of
41a law enforcement officer, subsequently takes an action described in Subsection (3)(b).
42   (3)(a) The circumstances described in Subsection (2)(c) are:
43(i) the existence of exigent circumstances; or
44(ii) to protect a law enforcement officer's safety:
45(A) while executing a warrant; or
46(B) if the circumstances, as known to the law enforcement officer, present a real,
47articulable risk to the law enforcement officer's safety.
48(b) The subsequent actions described in Subsection (2)(c) are:
49(i) notifying the affected person within 24 hours after:
50(A) the exigent circumstances no longer exist;
51(B) the warrant described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii)(A) has been served; or
52(C) the circumstances described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii)(B) have been resolved; or
53(ii) obtaining a court order as soon as practicable after the circumstance described in
54Subsection (3)(a) no longer exists, and if a court refuses to issue a court order,
55informing the person about the action taken on the surveillance camera within 24
56hours after the court's refusal.
57   (4) This section does not apply to a camera that is used for the surveillance or taking of
58wildlife.
59Section 3. Effective Date.
60   This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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