Bill > HB0287

This bill makes comprehensive amendments to Utah's stalking laws, clarifying and expanding definitions and legal protections. The bill broadens the definition of "course of conduct" to include multiple forms of tracking, monitoring, or interfering with an individual, such as following, photographing, surveilling, threatening, or communicating about a person through direct, indirect, or electronic means. It explicitly defines "emotional distress" to include psychological suffering, even without medical treatment, and notably includes distress resulting from harm to an animal. The bill establishes different levels of criminal penalties for stalking, ranging from a class A misdemeanor for a first offense to a second-degree felony for repeat offenders or those using dangerous weapons. The legislation also outlines specific circumstances where stalking charges can be pursued, such as across jurisdictions where any part of the conduct occurred. Additionally, the bill provides detailed guidance for law enforcement response, requiring officers to take comprehensive steps to protect victims, including confiscating weapons, arranging emergency housing, and providing written notice of victims' rights. The bill also modifies procedures for obtaining civil stalking injunctions, making the process more accessible and protective of victims' privacy, with provisions for both ex parte and full injunctions. The amendments take effect on May 7, 2025, and aim to provide more robust legal mechanisms to prevent and prosecute stalking.

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https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0287.html