S.B. 200 Impounded Vehicle Amendments

What this bill does

The bill would add cell phones and work tools to Utah's list of life essential items that a person can retrieve from a towed vehicle. A substitute version adds a process for a towing company to verify that the tools relate to the person's employment.

Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.

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Every vote

• 5 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 30, 2026Who voted how
• 28 yes, 0 no, 1 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 23, 2026Who voted how
• 24 yes, 0 no, 5 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Jan 30, 2026 Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (18 turns)

  1. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)54:28

     Okay. We'll go to Senate bill 200 Impound vehicle Amendment. Senator Pitcher, thank you for your patience.

  2. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher54:41

     Thank you. Go ahead. All Right. Thank you. It's nice to be in front of the committee today. Um, SB 200 addresses, um, the definition of life essential items. And when an individual is able to go and obtain items left in the vehicle, or that happened to be in the vehicle at the time, their private vehicle was towed. Um, and Utah Code already has a list of life essential items that includes things like, um, medical expense, or, excuse me, not medical expenses, medical devices, uh, but the bill proposes to include a cell phone and work tools. And I'll share that this issue came to my attention, um, myself as I had a, a client, I worked as a criminal defense attorney. I had a client whose vehicle was towed. Um, and they, the, uh, the individual had left like a bag of their work tools and they work in construction. He was unable to afford the towing costs or the cost necessary to obtain the vehicle. Um, and likewise was unable to go and retrieve his items. And so on top of the tragedy of, of losing the vehicle, um, and the value of that, he also wasn't able to get the materials that he needed to continue his work. Um, so that's what flagged this to my attention. I, I think, um, you know, it's certainly good policy to ensure that an individual doesn't become destitute as a result of a toe. Um, and that we give individuals the ability to continue meeting their basic needs and the basic needs of their family. So that's, uh, the genesis of the bill, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you for that presentation.

  3. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)56:16

     Questions from the committee? I do not see any Now, who in the public would like to address this Bill, if you'll raise your hands? Little bit higher. 1, 2, 3. Okay. We've got three and none online, so if you come up and, and take a chair and, and provide your input, that would be great.

  4. Adam Crayk, Managing Partner, Stowell Crayk56:38

     Members of the committee. My name is Adam Craig. Uh, I am the managing partner at STO Creek. We are the largest private criminal defense firm and immigration firm, basically in the state of Utah and most states all around us. Um, I speak also because we own the contract for 12 cities within the state of, within the Wasatch front, when our clients have their cars towed and they have their essential items inside of them. And I'm sa I'm talking about our indigent defense clients. Uh, we try to set them on the right path and we don't like to have set them up for failure, but when they have their tools, when they have their phones, when they have everything that they work with that they have to use, and we put them on probation, we put them in programs, and they have to pay for those things, uh, they can't because they are without the essential items that they use on a daily basis to be able to effectuate their career, effectuate their jobs. And so we don't want them back on orders to show cause 'cause they don't have the ability to pay, they don't have the ability to do the things that they've been doing up to that point. So our request as legal defenders for over 12 cities, uh, is that this bill pass that people are able to maintain their livelihoods because lots of time their livelihoods are within those vehicles. So we request favorably that this bill pass and that it gets moved forward. Thank you. If you have any questions, happy to answer. Alright, Next.

  5. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)58:15

     Welcome back. Thank You.

  6. Barbara Christensen, President, Utah Professional Towing Alliance58:18

     Good afternoon, chairman and committee. Thank you for allowing me to testify today. My name is Barbara Christensen and I'm the current president of the Utah Professional Towing Alliance. Uh, we oppose this bill as it is written because right now, last year we worked with stakeholders in the tax commission to create the list that is currently in code. We spent a lot of time working on that because we also don't wanna set people up for failure. So that is why we came up with the list of life essential items. What we would like to say is that first and foremost, we provide a public service to the police departments when we tow these vehicles as either impounds or accidents. So we would, we just want to be paid for the service that is provided by our companies. We're not in the business of trying to hold people's stuff or hold their vehicles. We would love for them to come and pick up their vehicles and retrieve not only their vehicle, but all of their property with it. Um, we also would like to bring up the fact that the service that we provide right now, there is a 27 to 31% abandonment rate. And as we allow all of these things to leave the vehicles, that increases the abandonment rate because once the stuff is removed from the vehicle, there's no reason to pick the vehicle up. Okay. That concludes it. That concludes it. Thank you.

  7. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)59:46

     Okay. You, you're normally more, you know what verbose, you know, but you want to be very com compact this time, so yes. Thank you. Thank you. All right, next, please.

  8. Brett Reeder, Vice President, Utah Professional Towing Alliance1:00:04

     Um, my name is Brett Reeder. I'm the Vice President of the Utah Towing Alliance. I will echo what Barbara said. Um, and just go a little bit further. I even was this morning out on a rollover called out by the Highway Patrol. Uh, it was a small enclosed trailer being pulled by a pickup. The pickup did not roll and was fine. The trailer rolled. There were tools and stuff everywhere and inside the trailer. It was a perfect example of we don't wanna set these people back either, but one of us is getting set back, it appears because they feel we're setting them back. If we don't get paid for our service, we feel like we're getting set back. Like Barb said, we don't want their vehicles, we don't want their tools. We would just like to be paid for the service we did. The service I provided this morning was on behalf of the Highway patrol, which actually is on behalf of the entire public, that commuting and going down the roadway, that needs to be picked up so that the traffic can continue to flow. Um, you know, it, we just ask to be paid. We don't want the, we've had problems where we have released some stuff out of cars to people, and when they come back, uh, they then say, oh, well this is missing now. So, I mean, we have to keep an itemized report, but they always try to sneak a few extra things and it, it causes problems. We just want to stay complete them to come pick it up and go on their way.

  9. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)1:01:27

     Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Now online, I'll close the public com. Oh, one more. You must have snuck in late. Are we voting for him to come up? Yeah. Okay.

  10. Steve Burton, Director, Utah Defense Attorney Association1:01:47

      Senator Harper, good to see you. Um, good to see you. Committee. Um, as you know, uh, we worked on, uh, Steve Burton representing the Defense Attorneys Association. I know that, but thank You. The microphone doesn't. I appreciate your reminder. Um, as you know, we've worked on evidence retention type bills and the ability to return property when property is no longer needed. So in these types of situations, uh, any evidence that's needed in the car is already taken out of the car. They wouldn't let it go to impound or they would put a hold on it if they needed to collect evidence in that vehicle at that time. Um, and the, the things that Senator Pitcher is asking for work tools and phone, uh, those are the types of things that allow a person to pay to be able to get their vehicle out of impound. So if they're able to, uh, have their phone to call friends and family members and resources to be able to, uh, get the money to in fact pay for that service. Uh, I also want to let the committee know that the types of things that, uh, somebody can get their car impounded for are things like, if your registration has been expired for three months, then you can get your car impounded, um, or a vehicle where you're in an accident over $2,500 of property damage. So these are just kind of normal people who, who may have their vehicles impounded and just need their stuff to be able to work. And that's all we're asking for is those life essential items and the items to allow them to work and pay that bill. Thank you very much. Okay.

  11. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)1:03:20

      That will now conclude, uh, public comment. We'll bring it back to the committee for discussion or action. Senator Winterton.

  12. Sen. Ronald M. Winterton1:03:30

      I can see both sides here and I can sympathize on both sides and, and so I wanna see it forward, but I wonder if this good sponsor wouldn't get with those that have expressed some concerns and see if we couldn't put some language in there that would satisfy. Uh, uh, I think that sometimes it's a little bit too broad work tools to the point where, you know, I can justify a lot of things in my vehicle that would, I mean, I drive around and my wife says that's my office, and, and so we need to maybe refine it a little bit more.

  13. Sen. Ronald M. Winterton1:04:13

      With that, I would make a motion that we forward the bill onto the full Senate floor.

  14. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)1:04:19

      Okay. Discussion to that motion. I do not see any, um,

  15. Unknown speaker1:04:29speaker not certain

      I echo Senator Winton's comments. I think there's some good things in this, but I think some refinements would benefit it.

  16. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)1:04:37

      So I'll call the question, all in favor of passing out favorably Senate bill 200 to the floor of the Senate with a favorable recommendation. Say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'll rule that passage unanimously. Thank you. Thank you.

  17. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher1:04:52

      And I will work on that. I appreciate

  18. Committee chair (Sen. Wayne A. Harper)1:04:53

      The feedback. Okay. I'll turn the chair over to Senator Winterton as we call Senate Bill one ninety seven.

• Feb 23, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (8 turns)

  1. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher3:20:06speaker not certain

     move, uh, first substitute Senate bill 200 in my name.

  2. Speaker (presiding)3:20:09

     Okay. That motion's in order. Do you wanna explain the substitute?

  3. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher3:20:12

     Yeah, the substitute, uh, incorporates some feedback that we got in committee specifically with regards to, uh, work tools and ensuring that, uh, a towing company can verify that those tools are, um, actually related to an individual's employment.

  4. Speaker (presiding)3:20:29

     Okay. See no discussion on the motion to substitute. All in favor of deleting title and body Senate bill 200 and replacing with first substitute Senate bill 200 all say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Roll the motion passes. The bill is substituted. Senator Pitcher.

  5. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher3:20:51

     Thank you Mr. President. Uh, Mr. President. The sub bill, uh, essentially what it does is it allows an individual whose vehicle has been towed, uh, the ability to retrieve their cell phone or work tools from the vehicle. Oftentimes obtaining those work tools is what will, uh, ensure the individual is able to then pay for the tow. So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

  6. Speaker (presiding)3:21:11

     Thank you. Say no questions. Do you for a motion

  7. Unknown speaker3:21:14speaker not certain

     I move that first substitute Senate bill 200. Be read for a third time.

  8. Speaker (presiding)3:21:17

     Thank you. And the question is, shall first substitute Senate bill 200? Be read a third time. Roll call Vote. Senator Spery Aye. Lewin Aye. Bramer Aye. Buss. Colmore Aye. Escamilla. Bill Moore. Aye. Grover Aye. Harper Hankins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson. Aye. Juab McKay Mikel Aye. Milner Musselman Owens Pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson. Stevenson Aye. Braten Vickers Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye. Rebe Aye. President Adams Aye. First substitute Senate Bill 200 haven't received 28 a votes zero. A votes one being absent shall be read A third time.

• Feb 25, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (11 turns)

  1. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher1:36:36

     Thank you Mr. President Pro Tem. This was circled earlier so that the fiscal note could catch up. Uh, there is no fiscal impact. This bill allows an individual whose vehicle is towed to, uh, retrieve a cell phone and work tools. Um, a sub was introduced on second that would ensure, um, a good process whereby, uh, tows can verify that the work tools are actually, uh, related to an individual's work and not just hobby tools or, or things of that nature. Um, with that change, my understanding is this is a consensus. Bill, happy to answer any questions.

  2. Presiding officer (President Pro Tem)1:37:08

     Thank you for that presentation Discussion. The bill. Senator Fillmore saying none. Senator Pitcher back to you for summation or a motion.

  3. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher1:37:17

     Thank you. I move that first substitute Senate bill 200 pass.

  4. Presiding officer (President Pro Tem)1:37:20

     And the question is, shall first substitute Senate bill 200 Pass Roll call vote.

  5. Unknown speaker1:37:26speaker not certain

     Senator Vickers Baldry. Lewin Aye. Bramer Bus Fillmore Escamia Aye. Fillmore Aye. Roper Aye. Harper Aye. Hankins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson Aye. Juab Aye. McKay, Macl Milner Musman Aye. Owens pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Aye. Vickers a Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton President Adams

  6. Presiding officer (President Pro Tem)1:38:15

     First substitute Senate bill 200 Having received 24 8 votes, zero na votes five being absent passed the Senate we sent to the house for further consideration.

  7. Presiding officer (President Pro Tem)1:38:25

     Senator Pitcher,

  8. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher1:38:26

     Thank you.

  9. Presiding officer (President Pro Tem)1:38:28

     Oh, sorry. Lemme turn your mic back on. Go ahead. Thank

  10. Sen. Stephanie Pitcher1:38:31

      You Mr. President ProAm. Motion to encircle Senate bill 2 0 5 for substitute

  11. Presiding officer (President Pro Tem)1:38:35

      Motion is to encircle Senate bill 2 0 5. First substitute law enforcement artificial intelligence amendments discussion. That motion saying none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'll rule that passes the bill's. Encircle. Senator Pitcher.