Bill > HB0289

This bill amends several Utah statutes to expand the definition and scope of offenses related to child sexual abuse material, including introducing new categories like "apparent child sexual abuse material" and "obscene child sexual abuse material," which are defined as visual depictions of minors in sexually explicit conduct, whether real or generated by artificial intelligence, that are sufficiently realistic or offensive to be considered harmful. These changes impact various areas of law, including public library internet access policies to block such material, sheriff's duties regarding prisoner access to discovery, the handling and retention of such material by state departments, background checks for individuals with direct access to children or vulnerable adults, registration requirements for sex offenders, and penalties for possessing, distributing, or producing these materials. The bill also clarifies definitions within the Juvenile Code and updates provisions related to habitual violent offenders, repeat sex offenders, and adoption eligibility to incorporate these new categories of prohibited material, aiming to strengthen protections against child sexual abuse in various legal and public contexts.

Justice

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0289.html