House approves measure allowing limited trespass status for long‑term guests when co-owners disagree

The Utah House passed Senate Bill 255, which modifies trespass law to allow, under a limited set of circumstances, a long‑term guest to be treated as a trespasser when co‑owners disagree about the guest’s presence.

Representative Musselman, the House sponsor, told the chamber the bill addresses situations in which, for example, joint-tenancy co-owners disagree about a guest who is no longer welcome. "These are very specifically called out in the bill in line 61 through 66," Musselman said, emphasizing that the measure would not create an open-ended path for eviction and would exclude immediate family.

Representative Shipp asked whether the bill would help in a separate scenario where a couple is living temporarily with an older homeowner and the homeowner later wants them removed. Musselman replied, "Unfortunately, no," explaining the bill does not change existing procedures for that type of temporary‑residency situation and instead focuses on cases involving title or ownership disputes.

With summation waived, the House voted and the presiding officer announced that SB 255 passed 68 yes, 3 no. The measure will be sent to the Senate for signature.

The bill text was referenced on the floor with line citations; no floor amendments were adopted during this consideration.