Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 260 — Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments

Last action — Governor Signed

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 14, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 23, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

145 added · 157 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments made to Bill HB 260 include allowing courts to take specific actions against individuals engaging in unauthorized legal practice, which gives the courts more authority in these situations. The bill now also establishes criminal penalties for such unauthorized practice, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue. Additionally, it clarifies that the Supreme Court's regulatory authority over legal practice is not limited by these new provisions. Importantly, it introduces a three-year statute of limitations for civil actions related to unauthorized legal practice, providing a clear timeframe for taking legal action. These changes matter because they strengthen the legal framework to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of the legal profession.

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HB0260S02 compared with HB0260 {Omitted text} shows text that was in HB0260 but was omitted in HB0260S02 inserted text shows text that was not in HB0260 but was inserted into HB0260S02 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy H.B.
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260 Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
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Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Loubet Senate Sponsor:Brady Brammer 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
Loubet Senate Sponsor:
Brady Brammer 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
▸ allows the court to take certain actions when {an individual } a person is engaging in the unauthorized practice of law before the court;
▸ allows the court to take certain actions when a person is engaging in the unauthorized practice of law before the court;
▸ provides a three-year statute of limitations for a civil action for the unauthorizedHpractice of law and the exceptions to the statute of limitations;
▸ provides a three-year statute of limitations for a civil action for the unauthorized practice of law and the exceptions to the statute of limitations;
B ▸ reorganizes the three-year statute of limitations for certain actions;
▸ reorganizes the three-year statute of limitations for certain actions;
and 2 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
and ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
6 HB0260 compared with HB0260S02 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
78A-9-103 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, First Special Session, Chapters 2, 2 REPEALS AND REENACTS:
78A-9-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, First Special Session, Chapters 2, 2 REPEALS AND REENACTS:
78B-2-305 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 185 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
78B-2-305, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 185 H.B.
260 Enrolled Copy Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
78A-9-103.
78A-9-103 .
(b)(c) "Practice of law" means the same as that term is defined in Utah Code of Judicial Administration, Rule 14-802.
(c) "Practice of law" means the same as that term is defined in Utah Code of Judicial Administration, Rule 14-802.
(c)(d) "Unauthorized practice of law" means conduct that is a violation of Subsection (2).
(d) "Unauthorized practice of law" means conduct that is a violation of Subsection (2).
[(2) The prohibition against the practice of law described in Subsection (1) shall be enforced by any civil action or proceeding instituted by the Board of Commissioners of the Utah State Bar.] (3) - 2 - HB0260 compared with HB0260S02 (a) If a court determines, by a preponderance of the evidence, that {an individual } a person engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in a proceeding before the court:
[(2) The prohibition against the practice of law described in Subsection (1) shall be enforced by any civil action or proceeding instituted by the Board of Commissioners of the Utah State Bar.] (3)(a) If a court determines, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a person engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in a proceeding before the court:
(i) the court shall award attorney fees and costs incurred by any party as a result of the {individual's } person's unauthorized practice of law;
(i) the court shall award attorney fees and costs incurred by any party as a result of the person's unauthorized practice of law;
(A) strike any filing by the {individual} person;
(A) strike any filing by the person;
(B) subject to Subsection (7), issue an injunction enjoining the {individual } person from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law before the court;
(B) subject to Subsection (7), issue an injunction enjoining the person from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law before the court;
(b) A court may make a determination described in Subsection (3)(a) upon a motion by a party or the court's own motion.
(b) A court may make a determination described in Subsection (3)(a) upon a motion by a - 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
(4) (a) The board may bring a civil action against {an individual } a person for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
260 party or the court's own motion.
(4)(a) The board may bring a civil action against a person for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
(i) subject to Subsection (7), issue an injunction enjoining the {individual } person from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law;
(i) subject to Subsection (7), issue an injunction enjoining the person from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law;
(ii) order the {individual } person to return any payment that the {individual } person received from a {person for an act } client for any service that constituted the unauthorized practice of law;
(ii) order the person to return any payment that the person received from a client for any service that constituted the unauthorized practice of law;
(iii) order the {individual } person to pay up to $10,000 to a fund that reimburses clients for losses caused by dishonest persons admitted to the practice of law;
(iii) order the person to pay up to $10,000 to a fund that reimburses clients for losses caused by dishonest persons admitted to the practice of law;
or (v) order any other relief necessary to prevent the {individual } person from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
or (v) order any other relief necessary to prevent the person from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
(5) (a) {If } A client has a {person } right of action against a person if the client sustains damages or other harm as a result of {an individual } the person engaging in the unauthorized practice of law{, the person has a right of action against the individual} .
(5)(a) A client has a right of action against a person if the client sustains damages or other harm as a result of the person engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
(b) If a {person } client bringing a right of action described in Subsection (5)(a) prevails in that action:
(b) If a client bringing a right of action described in Subsection (5)(a) prevails in that action:
(i) the court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the {person} client;
(i) the court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the client;
and (ii) the court may award the following remedies to the {person} client:
and (ii) the court may award the following remedies to the client:
- 3 - HB0260 compared with HB0260S02 (A) general damages;
(A) general damages;
(6) An action described in Subsection (4) or (5) may only be brought within {a } the time period described in Section 78B-2-305.
(6) An action described in Subsection (4) or (5) may only be brought within the time period described in Section 78B-2-305.
(7) (a) {For } The court may only issue an injunction described in Subsection (3), (4), or (5){, the court shall issue an injunction } upon a showing, by {the } a preponderance of the evidence, that {an individual } a person engaged in, or is engaging in, the unauthorized practice of law.
(7)(a) The court may only issue an injunction described in Subsection (3), (4), or (5) upon a showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a person engaged in, or is engaging in, the unauthorized practice of law.
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(c) Proof of monetary damages is not necessary for a court to issue an injunctionunder this Subsection (7).
(c) Proof of monetary damages is not necessary for a court to issue an injunction under this Subsection (7).
(8) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (8)(b), {an individual } a person who engages in the unauthorized practice of law is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(8)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (8)(b), a person who engages in the unauthorized practice of law is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(b) {An individual } A person who engages in the unauthorized practice of law is guilty of a third degree felony if:
(b) A person who engages in the unauthorized practice of law is guilty of a third degree - 3 - H.B.
(i) the {individual } person falsely represents to a {person } client that the {individual } person is licensed or otherwise authorized to engage in the practice of law in this state;
260 Enrolled Copy felony if:
(ii) the {individual's } person's unauthorized practice of law causes a {person } client to suffer:
(i) the person falsely represents to a client that the person is licensed or otherwise authorized to engage in the practice of law in this state;
(ii) the person's unauthorized practice of law causes a client to suffer:
or (iii) the {individual } person has been previously convicted of the unauthorized practice of law {three or more times regardless of whether the conviction occurs in the same or separate prosecutions} .
or (iii) the person has been previously convicted of the unauthorized practice of law.
- 4 - HB0260 compared with HB0260S02 Section 2.
Section 2.
78B-2-305.
78B-2-305 .
(1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection (1), an action may only be brought within three years:
(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection (1), an action may only be brought within three years:
(c) (i) An action described in Subsection (1)(a)(ii) does not accrue until the owner has actual knowledge of facts that would put a reasonable person upon inquiry as to the possession of the animal by the defendant if:
(c)(i) An action described in Subsection (1)(a)(ii) does not accrue until the owner has actual knowledge of facts that would put a reasonable person upon inquiry as to the possession of the animal by the defendant if:
and (B) the animal strayed or was stolen from the true owner without the owner's fault.
- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
260 and (B) the animal strayed or was stolen from the true owner without the owner's fault.
- 5 - HB0260 compared with HB0260S02 (2) (a) As used in this Subsection (2):
(2)(a) As used in this Subsection (2):
(a){(ii)} {As used in this section, "unauthorized } "Unauthorized practice of law" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78A-9-103.
(ii) "Unauthorized practice of law" means the same as that term is defined in Section 78A-9-103.
(b) (i) The Board of Commissioners for the Utah State Bar may only bring an action for the unauthorized practice of law described in Subsection 78B-9-103(4) within three years after the day on which the {individual } person engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
(b)(i) The Board of Commissioners for the Utah State Bar may only bring an action for the unauthorized practice of law described in Subsection 78B-9-103(4) within three years after the day on which the person engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
(ii) If {an individual } a person engages in continuous conduct that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, the day on which the limitation period described in Subsection {(2)(b) } (2)(b)(i) begins when the {individual } person ceases to engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
(ii) If a person engages in continuous conduct that constitutes the unauthorized practice of law, the day on which the limitation period described in Subsection (2)(b)(i) begins when the person ceases to engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
(c) A {person } client may only bring an action for the unauthorized practice of law described in Subsection 78B-9-103(5) within three years after the day on which the {person } client discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, that the {individual } person engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
(c) A client may only bring an action for the unauthorized practice of law described in Subsection 78B-9-103(5) within three years after the day on which the client discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, that the person engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
Effective date.
This bill takes effect {on May 6, 2026.} :
This bill takes effect:
(b) without the governor's signature, the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8;
(b) without the governor's signature, the day following the constitutional time limit of - 5 - H.B.
260 Enrolled Copy Utah Constitution, Article VII, Section 8;
2-25-26 3:02 PM - 6 -
- 6 -
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Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. House/ to Governor

  3. House/ received enrolled bill from Printing

  4. House/ enrolled bill to Printing

  5. Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate

  6. Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared

  7. Bill Received from House for Enrolling

  8. House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

  9. House/ received from Senate

  10. Senate/ to House

  11. Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

  12. Senate/ received from House

  13. House/ to Senate

  14. House/ concurs with Senate amendment

  15. House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar

  16. House/ received from Senate

  17. Senate/ to House with amendments

  18. Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension

  19. Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension

  20. Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar

  21. Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]

  22. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0260S02

  23. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0260S02

  24. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  25. Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Business and Labor Committee]

  26. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]

  27. Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]

  28. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0260S02

  29. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0260S02

  30. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Business and Labor Committee]

  31. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  32. Senate/ received from House

  33. House/ to Senate

  34. House/ passed 3rd reading

  35. House/ 3rd reading

  36. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0260S01

  37. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0260S01

  38. House/ 2nd reading

  39. House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Judiciary Committee]

  40. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]

  41. House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]

  42. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0260S01

  43. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0260S01

  44. House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]

  45. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  46. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0260

  47. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  48. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  49. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0260

  50. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0260

  51. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0260

  52. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  53. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 102 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (102)

102 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 260?
HB 260 is sponsored by Brady Brammer (Republican) and Anthony E. Loubet (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 260?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 14, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 260?
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