House establishes Utah Victim Services Commission to coordinate victim assistance

The Utah House on Feb. 6 passed HB 244 to create a Utah Victim Services Commission designed to coordinate victim‑service delivery across state, local and private organizations and to improve accountability as federal funding declines.

Representative Ivory, who spoke for the measure, said the state constitution highlights the government’s role in addressing victims’ rights and needs (citing Article I, Section 28). Ivory and other supporters said the commission would bring agencies and organizations together to provide better, more coordinated service delivery and oversight.

Supporters described broad, bipartisan work in interim committees and stakeholder groups to design the commission. Representative Johnson praised the effort as necessary and said a dedicated body would keep the work moving forward. The House approved the substitute 73‑1 and will transmit the bill to the Senate.