{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-53-2a-219","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 53-2a-219","heading":"Religious practice during a state of emergency.","body":"(1) During a state of emergency declared as described in this chapter:\n(a) the governor or chief executive officer of a political subdivision may not impose a restriction on a religious gathering that is more restrictive than a restriction on any other relevantly similar gathering; and\n(b) an individual, while acting or purporting to act within the course and scope of the individual's official government capacity, may not:\n(i) prevent a religious gathering that is held in a manner consistent with any order or restriction issued pursuant to this part; or\n(ii) impose a penalty for a previous religious gathering that was held in a manner consistent with any order or restriction issued pursuant to this part.\n(2) Upon proper grounds, a court of competent jurisdiction may grant an injunction to prevent the violation of this section.\n(3) During a state of emergency declared as described in this title, the governor or the chief executive of a political subdivision shall not issue an executive order or impose or implement a regulation that substantially burdens an individual's exercise of religion unless the governor or chief executive officer of the political subdivision demonstrates that the application of the burden to the individual:\n(a) is in furtherance of a compelling government interest; and\n(b) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.\n(4) Notwithstanding Subsections (1) and (3), an executive order shall allow reasonable accommodations for an individual to perform or participate in a religious practice or rite.","path":["Title 53 Public Safety Code","Chapter 53-2a Emergency Management Act","Part 53-2a-2 Disaster Response and Recovery Act"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title53/Chapter2a/53-2a-S219.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:33Z","sha256":"97559257a730ef2e419ef8fdf3cac57223186a3a3b0c60c895087ab46369f885","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-53-2a-218","next":"us-ut/utah-code-53-2a-221"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}