SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (March 17, 2021) – Yesterday, Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill into law that reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws and opts the state out of the federal “equitable sharing” program. Sen. Todd Weiler (R) introduced Senate Bill 98 (SB98) on Jan. 19. The new law makes several positive changes to Utah’s asset forfeiture process and clarifies ambiguity in the current law. It also includes important provisions that will opt Utah out of a federal asset forfeiture program in most cases. This is particularly important in light of a policy directive issued in July 2017 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions for the Department of Justice (DOJ) that remains in effect today.