Sen. Darren Owens, Utah DOC preview 2026 session: drones, capacity and tech funding top list
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Summary
On a Nov. 2025 UDC podcast, Sen. Darren Owens and Executive Director Jared Garcia outlined legislative priorities for 2026, including statutory cleanup, proposed restrictions on drone flyovers to curb contraband, a prison capacity task force and funding to replace an antiquated case-management system (Otrack).
Sen. Darren Owens and Utah Department of Corrections Executive Director Jared Garcia used a November 2025 podcast appearance to preview policy and budget items they expect to pursue or support in the 2026 legislative session.
Owens told the Department of Corrections podcast that one bill he is working on would limit drone flyovers near correctional facilities, saying lawmakers are concerned drones can be used "in negative ways, to bring in items." He described statutory cleanup work and his role on a prison capacity task force evaluating facility needs and long-term costs.
“It’s gonna take a big investment to continue to provide services and not just personnel, but the buildings that house our incarcerated,” Owens said, framing the capacity issue as one that will require significant funding decisions.
Garcia said the department is preparing for a tight budget year and listed operations and maintenance as the top priority: keeping facilities open, feeding incarcerated people and paying employees. He also emphasized continued support for overtime funding now that vacancy savings have declined.
Garcia highlighted a planned technology replacement for an older system called Otrack, saying updated systems are necessary to produce reliable data for operational decisions. “We need the right technology to give us the right data, to make the right decisions,” he said.
Both leaders said they will continue to work with the governor’s office and legislative chairs to press for the department’s priorities, though they acknowledged the legislature will make final budget decisions. No bills had been formally filed during the podcast; Owens described items under consideration and the work of committee and task-force processes.
The conversation closes with an appeal for DOC staff and stakeholders to maintain relationships with local lawmakers so operational needs are understood during the budgeting process.
