Bill > HB0454

This bill amends existing Utah law to expand the definition and penalties for public assistance fraud, including creating a new offense for individuals who knowingly assist an applicant in providing false information on a public assistance application with the intent to help that applicant receive benefits they are not entitled to. It also clarifies that "SNAP benefit" refers to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The bill revises the existing public assistance fraud statute to include "obtaining or using" public assistance, and adds "client or provider" to those who can commit fraud by failing to disclose material facts. Penalties for public assistance fraud are tiered based on the value of the fraudulent benefits, ranging from a class B misdemeanor for amounts under $500 to a second-degree felony for amounts of $5,000 or more, with provisions for aggregating multiple instances of fraud. Additionally, the bill updates the definition of "unlawful activity" within the context of racketeering to include the new public assistance fraud offenses. This bill is set to take effect on May 6, 2026.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0454.html