Bill > SB0213

This bill modifies the Utah Payment of Wages Act by changing the rules for when an employee can sue an employer in court for unpaid wages without first going through a formal administrative process. Previously, employees generally had to exhaust administrative remedies, meaning they had to try to resolve the wage dispute through the commission first, unless their claim was over $10,000 or met other specific conditions. This bill introduces a new provision that allows an employee to file a lawsuit for a wage claim within one year of when the wages were earned, even if they haven't exhausted administrative remedies, provided the wage claim is over $10,000, or if the employee has other claims against the same employer that, when combined with the wage claim, exceed $10,000, or if multiple employees file a combined wage claim exceeding $10,000. The bill also specifies that courts can award actual damages, a daily penalty of 2.5% of unpaid wages for a limited period, and other applicable penalties. This change aims to provide employees with more direct access to the court system for wage disputes under certain circumstances.

Business and Industry, Justice

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0213.html