Senate narrows criminal amendments that prompt immigration reporting, passes measure amid dissent

The Utah State Senate passed a substituted criminal-amendments bill (recorded on the floor as House Bill 2 26) that sponsors said narrows qualifying offenses and increases the maximum penalty for selected Class A misdemeanors from 364 to 365 days. The bill requires certain convictions to be referred to federal authorities and directs courts to collect and report an inmate’s immigration status when relevant, according to the sponsor’s floor presentation.

Sponsor Senator McKay described the bill as targeted to “crimes against persons” and said the forced substitute narrowed the qualifying list to the “most egregious” offenses; he told the chamber that the move would reduce costs associated with incarcerating some undocumented offenders and said the state is incurring increasing costs tied to illegal immigration.

Opponents raised due-process and scope concerns. Senator Escamilla…