Utah’s legislature has unanimously passed SB 275, the State-Endorsed Digital Identity Program Amendments, establishing what may be the strongest privacy framework for a government digital ID program in the United States.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Kirk Cullimore, passed the Utah Senate 25-0 on February 24, 2026 and cleared the House unanimously on March 4, 2026. It takes effect May 6, 2026.
At the center of the legislation is a digital identity bill of rights that codifies four core protections. Utahns will have the right to use a physical ID in place of a digital one, the right not to be compelled to use digital identification, the right to selective disclosure of identity attributes, and the right to be free from surveillance, tracking, and profiling through the digital identity system. Selective disclosure allows residents to confirm only what a specific transaction requires, such as verifying age or a legal name, without handing over a full identity record that includes home address, birthdate, or other credentials.
The bill prohibits the government from withholding services from residents who choose to use a physical ID, and bars any routine tracking of digital identity activity. SB 275 also imposes a duty of loyalty on the state, digital wallet providers, and verifying parties, forbidding any processing of identity attributes that exploits users, conflicts with their best interests, or causes them harm. Digital wallet providers must obtain explicit user consent before processing any identity attribute and must incorporate state-of-the-art safeguards.
An ombudsman complaints path is established under the bill for residents who experience problems with the system. The Office of the Legislative Auditor General is required to conduct a comprehensive audit beginning January 2028, evaluating the program’s compliance with anti-surveillance restrictions and its overall effectiveness.
The driving principle behind the legislation is that the state endorses identity rather than creates it. Utah’s 2025 law redefining the state’s role in identity verification first established this concept, and officials subsequently promoted the State-Endorsed Digital Identity system after completing a formal study mandated by Senate Bill 260.
SB 275 is the culmination of that study process, translating its recommendations into binding law. The program uses device-based credentials stored in a mobile wallet, rather than a centralized government database. The bill passed without a single no vote in either chamber.
Sources: Utah Legislature (Bill Text), Libertas Institute, FastDemocracy
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
