HB 141 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Adoption Modifications

HB 141 modifies Utah's adoption evaluation requirements by creating three specific exceptions to the standard preplacement adoptive evaluation. It exempts prospective adoptive parents in cases where: (1) the child is related to the prospective parent (e.g., stepparent, grandparent, or cousin); (2) the prospective parent was previously married to the child's legal custodian and lived with the child for 180+ days; or (3) the child has lived with the prospective parent for one year prior to adoption filing. The bill does not change the core evaluation requirements for most adoptions but clarifies when the evaluation is not needed. This affects prospective adoptive parents in these specific family situations, streamlining the process for those cases under existing law.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's adoption evaluation requirements by clarifying exceptions to pre-placement evaluations for certain family relationships and standardizing background check procedures. The changes ensure that stepparents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and first cousins don't need evaluations when a pre-existing parent has custody, while maintaining safety standards for criminal background checks and home studies.

Scope change

The bill applies to all pre-placement adoptive evaluations in Utah, with specific exceptions for certain family relationships and special needs children.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that pre-placement evaluations are not required when a pre-existing parent has legal custody and the prospective adoptive parent is related as a stepparent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin, unless the court requests it.

REQUIREMENT

Standardized criminal background check procedures to ensure chain of custody and prevent tampering, requiring court approval for submission methods.

Updated home study requirements to specify that evaluators must be licensed professionals and the study must include character references, medical history, and home inspection.

TECHNICAL

Added provisions requiring adoption service providers to submit specific documentation to the court before adoption finalization for exempt cases.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Feb 21, 2025

Legislature · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

legislature

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor