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Committee advances a package of judiciary bills; SB72, SB12, SGR5 and SJR1 move forward
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Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced several measures to the Senate floor: SB72 (obscene animal-abuse material amendments) was favorably recommended unanimously; SB12 (ADR sunset extension) passed unanimously; SGR5 (business and chancery court procedure) passed; and SJR1 (evidence rule change) passed the committee substitute despite defense concerns.
The Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee handled multiple agenda items in a full hearing and recommended several measures to the full Senate.
SB72, presented by Sen. Vickers, aims to create a standalone statutory section clarifying that the production and distribution of obscene animal-abuse material (including defined "animal crushing" content that meets obscenity tests) is prosecutable under Utah law. Law-enforcement representatives and the Statewide Association of Prosecutors supported the bill as a clarification of existing prohibitions; a representative of the Utah Library Association cautioned that broad definitions could unintentionally affect school and public-library holdings. The committee voted to favorably recommend SB72 (voice vote; unanimous in committee).
SB12 would extend the sunset for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act from 2026-07-01 to 2036-07-01; no public testimony was taken and the committee adopted a favorable recommendation by voice vote.
SGR5, a joint resolution aligning civil-procedure rules with recent court amendments for venue transfers into the Business and Chancery Court, was adopted in substitute form and recommended favorably (5-0).
SJR1 proposes bringing adult sexual-assault evidence rules into closer alignment with federal practice and juvenile rules by permitting certain prior-misconduct allegations to be used in adult prosecutions. Defense organizations opposed the draft as written and asked for changes including a similarity requirement between prior acts and charged acts, an explicit rule-403 prejudice-versus-probative balancing reference, narrowed offense definitions, and a time limit. The sponsor accepted the need for continued work; the committee adopted a substitute and voted to favorably recommend SJR1 (5-1).
Votes and committee actions recorded in the hearing: - SB72: Favorably recommended to the Senate (committee voice vote; recorded as unanimous in committee). - SB12: Favorably recommended to the Senate (voice vote; unanimous). - SGR5 (substitute): Favorably recommended (5-0). - SJR1 (substitute): Favorably recommended (5-1).
The committee adjourned after advancing the items and hearing full public testimony on several topics. Items advanced will appear on the Senate calendar for further consideration and possible floor amendment.
