House passes two‑year pilot to build insurance database aimed at identifying uninsured motorists

The Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 19 approved House Bill 33, a two‑year pilot to create a computerized database to identify motorists who lack auto insurance, passing the measure 38‑33 and returning it to the Senate for further consideration.

Representative Kelly Atkinson, the bill’s sponsor, told colleagues the measure would let the state and local law‑enforcement agencies cross‑check motor‑vehicle registration and driver‑license records against insurance company data on a monthly basis. "AC 33 would create a computer database that crop checks motor vehicle and driver license records with insurance company data," Atkinson said during his floor explanation. He cited a BYU study and a 1991 Utah trial on the concept and said law enforcement had urged better tools to find repeat uninsured drivers.

Atkinson and other supporters pointed to several specifics in the bill and its fiscal note: insurers would be required to submit updates every 30 days; the database itself had an estimated initial cost of roughly $806,600, and the measure creates a restricted transportation account expected to hold about $1,400,000. The bill includes a $1 fee imposed on each motor vehicle registration to fund the account and authorizes the department to limit vendor contract payments to the money available in the restricted account. Atkinson cited a BYU survey result and economic estimates when he argued the plan would reduce a roughly "$19,000,000 problem" shouldered by policyholders.

Sponsors also built in privacy and penalty provisions. The bill text states the database information "may not be disclosed" under the state’s Government Records Access and Management Act (Title 63, Chapter 2) except as the bill authorizes; the floor debate noted an unauthorized disclosure could trigger a third‑degree felony penalty for knowingly releasing data to an unauthorized person.

Opponents pressed procedural, technical and equity concerns. Several representatives asked whether the database would actually make uninsured motorists buy insurance, questioned whether a monthly updated file would catch drivers who purchase a vehicle between updates, and warned the program could create a costly administrative structure. One opponent argued the bill "is not gonna make 1 individual buy insurance that's not now buying insurance," saying the proposal would not by itself force people to obtain coverage. Others flagged that the largest insurers had not fully participated in prior trials and questioned whether vendors holding proprietary insurer data posed privacy risks.

The bill establishes a two‑year trial: the first year would be notice‑focused (letters to owners identified in the database), and the second year could see the department more actively apply existing penalties for repeat violators. House members debated whether the trial should include fines during the pilot; Atkinson said the governor had asked that an immediate $600 fine be removed from the bill and that the statutory penalties for a class C misdemeanor (as cited in the debate, up to $750 and possible jail in the applicable statute) would remain available under current law for proven violations.

Several representatives declared conflicts of interest on the floor because they are licensed insurance agents. Law enforcement testimony and endorsements from officials such as Doug Badell (named in debate as a law‑enforcement witness to the trial) were offered in support. Atkinson closed by urging the House to approve the test and return evaluation results at the end of the period.

The House vote on the floor was 38 in favor and 33 opposed; the bill now proceeds to the Senate for its consideration.