UtahUtah law sets adoption rules for agencies and birth parents
Effective May 6, 2026, Utah law sets rules for adoption agencies and birthing facilities and protects certain choices for birth parents.
What it does
Private adoption agencies must post information about complaints, follow limits on payments for birth parents, and avoid pressure or promises tied to an adoption decision.
Adoption agencies must check a birth mother's health before arranging travel to Utah and provide the same kind and quality of transportation home if she chooses not to stay.
Birth parents must be told about their rights to independent legal counsel and mental health therapy before consenting to adoption, and may revoke consent within 72 hours.
Birthing facilities must set policies for adoption services on site and tell the state licensing office when they file a complaint or take action against an adoption agency.
Argument forIndependent legal advice could help birth parents understand their choices before they give up parental rights or agree to an adoption.
Argument againstPayment limits could leave some birth parents with less help for living costs unless the adoption agency gets approval to pay more.
More detail
Private adoption agencies must post complaint information and follow rules for payments and conduct. These rules apply to licensed private child-placing agencies that provide adoption services, their workers, and prospective adoptive parents. Agencies may pay up to $8,000 in living costs, along with listed weekly, medical, and legal costs. A statewide agency group may approve an exception. Agencies, their workers, and prospective adoptive parents may not pressure birth parents, including through threats or promises of money for consent.
Agencies must check a birth mother's health before arranging travel to Utah and provide return travel if she chooses not to stay. These rules apply to licensed private child-placing agencies that provide adoption services and transport, or arrange travel for, birth mothers coming to Utah. An agency may not bring a mother to Utah if it knows or should know she is at least 36 weeks pregnant, or if she is under 18. A parent or guardian may arrange travel for a minor mother independently. Before arranging travel for an out-of-state mother, the agency must check whether she receives Medicaid. If she does not stay in Utah, the agency must return her using the same kind and quality of transportation.
Birth parents have rights to independent legal counsel and mental health therapy, and may revoke adoption consent within 72 hours. These provisions concern parents whose consent or relinquishment is required for a minor child's adoption. A parent may waive the right to therapy. The parent may also waive the 72-hour revocation period in writing. Before a parent gives up parental rights or consents to adoption, the parent must be told about the right to independent counsel and therapy. A birth parent may revoke consent or relinquishment for any reason within 72 hours after signing it.
Birthing facilities must set policies for adoption services and report certain actions against adoption agencies to the state licensing office. These duties apply to health care facilities that provide birthing services. A facility or its staff may also alert the office about concerns over unethical adoption practices.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 5House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 5Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 3Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 3Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 2House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 2House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 27Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Feb 27Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 27House/ to Senate
- Feb 27House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Feb 26House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 26Senate/ to House with amendments
- Feb 26Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 26Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 25Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 20Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 20Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]
- Feb 20Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]Minor
- Feb 19Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]Major
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0051S04
- Feb 17LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0051S04
- Feb 17Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Health and Human Services Committee]Minor
- Feb 13LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0051S04
- Feb 13LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0051S04
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0051S03
- Feb 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0051S03
- Feb 5Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 4Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4House/ to Senate
- Feb 4House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 4House/ substituted
- Feb 4House/ uncircled
- Feb 3LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0051S03
- Feb 3LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0051S03
- Feb 3House/ circled
- Feb 3House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 28LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0051S02
- Jan 28LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0051S02
- Jan 26House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 26House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Judiciary Committee]
- Jan 23House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Jan 23House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Major
- Jan 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0051S02
- Jan 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0051S02
- Jan 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0051S01
- Jan 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0051S01
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0051
- Jan 20House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0051
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- 2025
- Dec 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0051
- Dec 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0051
- Dec 19Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 19Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
HealthcareMental Health