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House advances changes to capital-felony process, prompting lengthy debate over due process and timeliness
Summary
The House approved a first substitute (HB 4 95 / referred as HB 495) that tightens timelines and procedures in capital-felony appeals and competency reviews; supporters say it restores timeliness and trust, while opponents said it risks eroding protections for defendants with severe mental disabilities.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House approved the first substitute of HB 4 95 (listed and debated as first substitute HB 495) on Feb. 24 after extended debate over how the state handles capital-felony competency reviews, intellectual-disability claims and post-conviction process. The measure passed the House 56-13 and will be transmitted to the Senate.
House sponsor Representative Perucci described the bill as a technical and procedural package meant to shorten extraordinary delays in capital cases and to align Utah’s practice with federal review pathways. "This process right now is broken," the sponsor said during…
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