Bill > HB0377

This bill amends Utah's sexual offense law to provide clearer definitions and protections regarding sexual consent. The bill expands the circumstances under which sexual acts are considered non-consensual, including situations involving coercion, threat, impairment, vulnerability, or abuse of power. It clarifies that consent is not automatic based on prior consensual activity, can be withdrawn at any time, and that silence or lack of resistance does not necessarily imply consent. The bill also broadens the definition of sexual offenses to include scenarios where the victim is unable to provide meaningful consent due to age, mental capacity, or circumstances of power imbalance, such as when the perpetrator is a parent, guardian, or in a position of special trust. The bill specifically addresses situations involving health professionals or religious counselors who might exploit their professional relationship to engage in sexual acts. Additionally, the bill makes minor linguistic changes, such as replacing "of age" with "old" in age-related provisions. The amendments are set to take effect on May 7, 2025, providing a clear timeline for implementation of these updated sexual offense provisions.

Justice

https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0377.html