UT HB0253

Prosecuting attorneys must offer a plea in abeyance to first-time offenders charged with use or possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana (class B misdemeanor), provided the defendant is 18 or older and has no prior convictions

Defendants who successfully complete the plea in abeyance terms avoid a criminal conviction being entered on their record

Any incarceration term included in the plea in abeyance agreement must be suspended rather than served

Juvenile adjudications and traffic offenses do not count as prior convictions for determining eligibility

Effective date: May 6, 2026