What Utah lawmakers are drafting, debating and passing that changes the law for people in the state.
Updated Nov. 14, 2026
Bill tracker
Our tracker lists every public 2027 bill file we are following on license plate readers and police technology, and on data centers, energy and the Military Installation Development Authority, plus bills lawmakers have announced that are not on the public list yet.
Sources: Utah Legislature, 2027 bill files.
Jan. 19 to March 5, 2027
The Legislature's 2027 general session opens Jan. 19 and ends March 5. Bill files opened during this year's interim deal with data centers, the Military Installation Development Authority, license plate readers and sentencing. They are covered below and in our Surveillance and Data Centers sections.
Sources: Utah Legislature, 2027 General Session.
Oct. 21, 2026
Interim committee
The Military Installation Development Authority's new executive director, Dan Hemmert, took questions from the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee about the agency's role in the Stratos data center in Box Elder County. Hemmert said MIDA does not pressure local officials and that he expects to explain Stratos' military connection at MIDA's December board meeting. He confirmed the state auditor's office has asked for MIDA documents.
Rep. Jason Thompson, R-River Heights, has opened a bill file that would limit MIDA to supporting troops and base security and bar it from data center projects. Hemmert said he expects numerous bills aimed at the agency in January. In August, Gov. Spencer Cox called the Stratos process "not good" and asked for MIDA reforms.
Sources: Fox 13, Oct. 21, 2026; Salt Lake Tribune, Aug. 20, 2026.
Nov. 6, 2026
Leadership
Senate Republicans chose Sen. Evan Vickers as Senate president for the 67th Legislature, with Sen. Chris Wilson as majority leader and Sen. Michael McKell as majority whip. House Republicans kept Mike Schultz as speaker, with Rep. Casey Snider as majority leader and Rep. Candice Pierucci as majority whip. Senate Democrats chose Sen. Luz Escamilla as minority leader.
Sources: KUTV, Nov. 6, 2026.
June to October 2026
Interim committees
In June the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee voted unanimously to open a bill file defining a large-scale data center, the first step toward regulating them. Since then several interim committees have taken testimony on water, power, air quality and taxes. The Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel McCay, is studying the tax incentives data centers receive. Any bill waits for the January session unless the governor calls a special session.
Sources: Fox 13; KPCW, June 18, 2026; KUTV.
For January
A bipartisan coalition wants a warrant before police search plate reader data in an investigation, and Sen. Calvin Musselman has opened a bill file. The Utah Privacy Commission sent lawmakers its recommendations in October. Details are in our Surveillance and Privacy section.
Sources: KSL, Nov. 11, 2026.
For January
The Utah Sentencing Commission voted to recommend prison instead of jail for enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and forcible sexual abuse. The change needs a resolution passed by both the House and the Senate.
Sources: KUTV, Oct. 6, 2026.
Bill files we are watching on plate readers and police technology, and on data centers and MIDA. A bill file is a request for legislation; most have no public text until they are numbered. Titles can change, and some bills lawmakers have announced do not appear on the Legislature's public list yet. Checked Nov. 14, 2026 against the Legislature's lists of Senate, House and committee bill files.
| Bill | Number | Status | What we know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law Enforcement Technology AmendmentsLaw Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee (committee bill file) | Not numbered | In process | No public text. The committee's chair, Sen. Calvin Musselman, presented a bill file in September to add rules for several police technologies, plate readers among them. Background: our 2027 Flock preview.Sources: Legislature, committee bill files; KPCW, Sept. 18, 2026 |
| Surveillance Camera AmendmentsSen. Kathleen Riebe | Not numbered | In process | No public text yet.Sources: Legislature, Senate bill files |
| Security Camera AmendmentsRep. Melissa Ballard | Not numbered | In process | No public text yet. The title alone does not say whether it reaches police cameras.Sources: Legislature, House bill files |
| Bill | Number | Status | What we know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Data Center AmendmentsEconomic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee (committee bill file) | Not numbered | In process | No public text. The committee opened it in June to define a large-scale data center in state law.Sources: Legislature, committee bill files; Fox 13 |
| Data Center Siting and Incentive AmendmentsRep. Paul Cutler | Not numbered | In process | No public text. House Minority Leader Angela Romero has said Cutler and Rep. Doug Owens are working on environmental legislation.Sources: Legislature, House bill files; Deseret News, Nov. 10, 2026 |
| Data Center Water and Energy UseSen. Emily Buss | Not numbered | In process | No public text yet.Sources: Legislature, Senate bill files |
| Military Installation Development Authority LimitationsRep. Casey Snider, House majority leader | Not numbered | In process | No public text. Speaker Mike Schultz has said MIDA "should never be doing data centers."Sources: Legislature, House bill files; Deseret News, Nov. 10, 2026 |
| Military Installation Development Authority AmendmentsSen. Brady Brammer | Not numbered | In process | No public text yet.Sources: Legislature, Senate bill files |
| Energy Procurement AmendmentsRep. Colin Jack (Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee) | Not numbered | In process | No public text. Jack was the House sponsor of the 2025 law on large power customers.Sources: Legislature, committee bill files; Utah House, Oct. 1, 2026 |
The Utah Docket covers the cases in the news and the changes in the law that matter to people in Utah. Nothing published here is legal advice.