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Utah Code § 76-5c-215

Distributing obscene animal abuse material

Enacted by Chapter 255, 2026 General Session

(1) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-5c-101, and 76-5c-201 apply to this section.

(2) An actor commits distributing obscene animal abuse material if the actor:

(a) sends or brings obscene animal abuse material into the state with intent to distribute or exhibit the obscene animal abuse material to another individual;

(b) prepares, publishes, prints, or possesses obscene animal abuse material with intent to distribute or exhibit the obscene animal abuse material to another individual;

(c) distributes or offers to distribute, or exhibits or offers to exhibit, obscene animal abuse material to another individual;

(d) writes, creates, or solicits the publication or advertising of obscene animal abuse material; or

(e) promotes the distribution or exhibition of obscene animal abuse material or material that the actor represents to be obscene animal abuse material.

(3)

(a) A violation of Subsection (2) is a third degree felony if the actor is 18 years old or older and is subject to:

(i) a minimum mandatory fine of not less than $1,000, plus $10 for each article exhibited up to the maximum allowed by law; and

(ii) incarceration, without suspension of sentence in any way, for a term of not less than 30 days.

(b) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class A misdemeanor if the actor is 16 or 17 years old.

(c) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor if the actor is younger than 16 years old.

(4) It is a separate offense under this section for:

(a) each day in which a publication containing obscene animal abuse material is displayed or exhibited in a public place with intent to distribute or exhibit the publication to another individual; or

(b) each act of distributing of obscene animal abuse material described in Subsection (2).

(5)

(a) This section does not apply to an internet service provider if:

(i) the distribution of obscene animal abuse material by the internet service provider occurs only incidentally through the internet service provider's function of:

(A) transmitting or routing data from one person to another person; or

(B) providing a connection between one person and another person;

(ii) the internet service provider does not intentionally aid or abet in the distribution of the obscene animal abuse material; and

(iii) the internet service provider does not knowingly receive funds from or through a person who distributes the obscene animal abuse material in exchange for permitting the person to distribute the obscene animal abuse material.

(b) This section does not apply to a hosting company if:

(i) the distribution of obscene animal abuse material by the hosting company occurs only incidentally through the hosting company's function of providing data storage space or data caching to a person;

(ii) the hosting company does not intentionally engage, aid, or abet in the distribution of the obscene animal abuse material; and

(iii) the hosting company does not knowingly receive funds from or through a person who distributes the obscene animal abuse material in exchange for permitting the person to distribute, store, or cache the obscene animal abuse material.

Official source: Utah State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Utah statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.