Utah SB 298 (bars AI/algorithmic transaction denials by protected traits)
Utah Senate Bill 298 — Programmable Money Amendments
Utah · Utah Code 70A-9a-902, 70A-9a-903 (S.B. 298, 2026)
- Status
- Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Takes effect
- May 5, 2027
- Applies to
- Issuers of programmable money.
- Enforced by
- Private civil litigation in Utah courts (a court may revoke business authorization).
Utah bars issuers of 'programmable money' from blocking or failing transactions based on a person's protected traits and lawful conduct — including political opinions or speech, religious beliefs, sex, skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, medical history, location, purchase or browsing history, residence, business sector, or any social-credit-style score. The prohibition explicitly reaches denials carried out through automation, computer code, algorithms, or AI. A harmed person can sue for statutory and declaratory relief plus actual and punitive damages, and a court can revoke the issuer's authorization to do business in Utah.
Who is protected: Persons whose programmable-money transactions could be denied based on protected characteristics or lawful conduct.
Legal detail
Enacts Utah Code 70A-9a-902 (programmable-money issuers may not deny transactions based on enumerated protected traits/lawful conduct or social-credit scoring; 70A-9a-902(2)(b) extends this to denials caused by computer code, algorithms, or AI) and 70A-9a-903 (remedies: statutory/declaratory relief, actual and punitive damages, attorney fees, and possible revocation of authorization).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Utah |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | March 26, 2026 |
| Citation | Utah Code 70A-9a-902, 70A-9a-903 (S.B. 298, 2026) |
| Private right of action | Yes, individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Statutory and declaratory relief plus actual and punitive damages (the greater of 3x actual damages or 3x attorney fees) and reasonable attorney fees; for intentional/repeated violations a court may revoke the issuer's authorization to do business in Utah. |
| Topics | automated decision-making · consumer protection |
| Bill text | Enrolled Copy S.B. 298, Programmable Money Amendments (2026 General Session) |
More AI rules in Utah
- Utah HB 76 data center water transparency (2026) · In effect
- Utah EO 2026-08 pro-human AI in state government · In effect
- UT HB 101 (2019 AV statute) · In effect
- UT drone-wildfire law · In effect
- Utah H.B. 148 (computer-generated CSAM & intimate images count as illegal) · In effect
- Utah H.B. 238 (AI-generated child sexual abuse material is illegal) · In effect
Related automated decision-making rules elsewhere
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- Arkansas public entity AI/ADS policy mandate (Act 848, 2025) · In effect
- Connecticut algorithmic rent ban — HB 8002 (eff. Jan 1, 2026) · In effect
- San Diego algorithmic rent price-fixing ban (Ord. O-21955, May 2025) · In effect
- Minneapolis algorithmic rent ban (Ord. 2025-010, eff. Mar 1, 2026) · In effect
- Seattle algorithmic rent-fixing ban (Ord. 127241 / SMC 7.34, July 2025) · In effect
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