This bill amends provisions relating to adoption and child-placing agencies.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's adoption law would see substantial changes under this bill, most of which build on and add further detail to protections and payment limits already reflected in earlier drafts. Beginning in 2027, private child-placing agencies would need to be nonprofit organizations to hold a state license, and the bill would replace the existing statewide agency consortium with a new "Utah Child-Placing Adoption Agency Consortium" that advises the Legislature, reviews agency requests to exceed payment limits, and reports adoption data to lawmakers annually. Birth parents would gain new rights, including independent legal counsel paid for by the agency or adoptive parents, up to six mental health therapy sessions (with the agency's payment cap raised from $400 to $800), a 72-hour window to revoke consent for any reason, and the ability to revoke consent later if a court finds it was obtained through duress, fraud, or undue influence; agencies would also be barred from coercive tactics, discussing post-adoption gifts before finalization, and would face new limits on payments to birth parents ($8,000 in living expenses, weekly allowances capped at $200 for the birth parent and $75 for dependents, for up to 12 weeks prenatally and 4 weeks postpartum). The bill would also restrict agencies from transporting birth mothers to Utah who are 36 or more weeks pregnant or under 18, require agencies to verify Medicaid status and arrange return transportation for mothers who don't place their child, require disclosure of any financial interests agency members have in service providers, and require hospitals and other birthing facilities to adopt policies on adoption-related activity and report concerns or complaints about agencies to the state's Office of Licensing.
Current version: HB0051S04 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 20
House Rules
House Committee
Jan 23
House Floor Vote
Feb 4
Senate Rules
Feb 5
Senate Committee
Feb 19
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 25
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 26
House Concurrence
Feb 27
Governor Signed
Mar 25
IntroductionJan 20
House Rules
House CommitteeJan 23
House Floor VoteFeb 4
Senate RulesFeb 5
Senate CommitteeFeb 19
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 25
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 26
House ConcurrenceFeb 27
Governor SignedMar 25
This bill amends provisions relating to adoption and child-placing agencies.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
Utah's adoption law would see substantial changes under this bill, most of which build on and add further detail to protections and payment limits already reflected in earlier drafts. Beginning in 2027, private child-placing agencies would need to be nonprofit organizations to hold a state license, and the bill would replace the existing statewide agency consortium with a new "Utah Child-Placing Adoption Agency Consortium" that advises the Legislature, reviews agency requests to exceed payment limits, and reports adoption data to lawmakers annually. Birth parents would gain new rights, including independent legal counsel paid for by the agency or adoptive parents, up to six mental health therapy sessions (with the agency's payment cap raised from $400 to $800), a 72-hour window to revoke consent for any reason, and the ability to revoke consent later if a court finds it was obtained through duress, fraud, or undue influence; agencies would also be barred from coercive tactics, discussing post-adoption gifts before finalization, and would face new limits on payments to birth parents ($8,000 in living expenses, weekly allowances capped at $200 for the birth parent and $75 for dependents, for up to 12 weeks prenatally and 4 weeks postpartum). The bill would also restrict agencies from transporting birth mothers to Utah who are 36 or more weeks pregnant or under 18, require agencies to verify Medicaid status and arrange return transportation for mothers who don't place their child, require disclosure of any financial interests agency members have in service providers, and require hospitals and other birthing facilities to adopt policies on adoption-related activity and report concerns or complaints about agencies to the state's Office of Licensing.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM