Bill of the Week

The Elephant Club’s Session Newsletter is a weekly explainer published during the legislative session. It focuses on complex bills that benefit from plain-English explanations. Each issue highlights 1 bill, explains what it does, why it was introduced, and provides updates as the bill moves through the process. Content is prepared independently, with sponsor review for accuracy, and is intended to improve understanding for the public.

Bill number: HB 274

Sponsor: Speaker Mike Schultz

• Short Name: Sentencing Amendments
• Where it is: Senate Floor
• Why it’s complex:It touches three moving parts at once: who sets sentencing guidance, what priorities they must weigh, and what courts must consider at sentencing.
  

Why the Bill Exists

“About ten years ago, the Sentencing Commission pulled back on some jail and prison recommendations. Since then many Utahns have raised concerns about serious offenders receiving little or no incarceration. I’m bringing this bill forward to refocus our guidelines on public safety and victim protection. This bill gives judges and the Sentencing Commission clearer direction on what to consider, while still preserving judicial discretion in every case.”

What the Bill Does

What Supporters Say

• Reinforces a public safety focus with clearer direction for judges and guideline writers.
• Aims for more consistent sentencing by updating scoring and supervision guidance.
• Strengthens victim consideration and makes sentencing factors clearer to the public.

What Critics May Worry About

• Some may question structural changes to a technical body.
• Updating scoring could shift sentence lengths or supervision until new guidance settles.
• Stronger prioritization language may be seen as narrowing flexibility.

Why I Support the Bill

As President of the Utah Elephant Club, I support HB 274 because it keeps the focus where it should be: protecting the public while bringing more clarity and consistency to how we handle the most serious crimes. I also appreciate how it puts victims and accountability front and center in a way people can actually understand. Setting a deadline to update the guidelines pushes follow-through, and allows judges to still keep the discretion to apply their common-sense judgment in each case.

Take Action This Week

This bill will be heard on the Senate floor next for a vote

• Call or Email your State Senator to voice your support

How Contact Your Legislators

(it’s simpler than it sounds)

How to find your Legislators

• Go to the Utah Legislature website and use the “Find My Legislator” tool.
• Enter your home address.
• The site will show your House Representative and Senator with contact details.

How to contact them

• Email is usually best for a clear record.
• Phone calls work well for urgent or local issues.
• Meeting requests carry more weight if you live in their district.

What to say

• Introduce yourself as a constituent.
• Keep it to one issue or bill.
• Share a brief local or personal reason it matters to you.

Good to know

• Legislators pay close attention to voters in their district.
• Short, respectful messages are far more effective than long ones.

Updates on Prior Bills

HB 209 (Voting Amendments) had a substitute adopted in the Senate committee. The substitute makes the bill clearer by setting up two ballot types and giving voters more time and notice to fix citizenship issues. It also gives election officials clearer steps to follow so the rules are applied the same way across the state. The sub passed and it’s now on the Senate floor for a vote.

HB 392 (District Court Amendments) passed committee and is now on the Senate floor for a vote

Note from the Elephant Club President 

Thank you for staying engaged this legislative session. If you know colleagues or community members who follow complex policy issues, please forward this along so we can help the public stay more informed.

Best,
Leslie Carpenter
President, the Utah Elephant Club