Bill > SB0113

This bill amends Utah's traffic code to address livestock collisions on highways, particularly in open range areas. The bill first defines "open range" by referencing an existing legal definition and then modifies regulations concerning livestock on highways. It maintains existing prohibitions against owners allowing livestock to stray on highways that are fully enclosed by fences or other barriers, but creates a specific exception for open range livestock moving between their customary ranges. The bill also retains existing restrictions on driving livestock across highways during nighttime hours, unless adequate herders with warning lights are present. Importantly, the bill introduces a new legal standard for civil actions involving collisions with open range livestock: when such livestock drift onto a highway from their accustomed range, there is now a rebuttable presumption of driver negligence. Additionally, in civil actions involving open range livestock, damages are now limited to the replacement cost of the livestock. The bill will take effect on May 7, 2025, and represents a nuanced approach to balancing the interests of livestock owners and highway users in open range regions.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0113.html