Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 113 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Sandall, Scott D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/24/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates a rebuttable presumption in a highway collision between a driver and open range livestock; and
• defines terms.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

3
41-6a-407
0
Traffic Code Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall
House Sponsor: Scott H. Chew
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses open range livestock collisions on a highway.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
creates a rebuttable presumption in a highway collision between a driver and open range 
livestock; and
defines terms.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
41-6a-407
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 412
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
41-6a-407
 is amended to read:
41-6a-407
. Livestock on highway -- Restrictions -- Collision, action for damages.
(1)
As used in this section, "open range" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
4-24-102
.
(1)
(2)
(a)
A person who owns or is in possession or control of any livestock may not 
willfully or negligently permit any of the livestock to stray or remain unaccompanied 
on a highway, if both sides of the highway are separated from adjoining property by a 
fence, wall, hedge, sidewalk, curb, lawn, or building.
(b)
Subsection 
(1)(a)
(2)(a)
 does not apply to 
open 
range 
stock
livestock
 drifting onto 
any highway moving to or from their accustomed ranges.
(2)
(3)
(a)
A person may not drive any livestock upon, over, or across any highway 
during the period from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise.
(b)
Subsection 
(2)(a)
(3)(a)
 does not apply if the person has a sufficient number of 
herders with warning lights on continual duty to open the road to permit the passage 
of vehicles.
(3)
(4)
A violation of Subsection 
(1)
 or 
(2)
 or (3)
 is an infraction.
(4)
(5)
In any civil action brought for damages caused by collision with any domestic 
animal or livestock on a highway, there is no presumption that the collision was due to 
negligence on behalf of the owner or the person in possession of the domestic animal or 
livestock.
(6)
In any civil action brought for damages caused by a collision with open range livestock 
on a highway, where open range livestock drift onto any highway to or from the open 
range livestock's accustomed range, there is a rebuttable presumption that the collision 
was due to the negligence of the driver.
(7)
In an action described in Subsection 
(6)
, damages for livestock are limited to the 
replacement cost of the livestock.
Section 2. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-6-25 6:18 PM