HB 413 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Child Custody Proceedings Amendments

HB 413 amends Utah child custody laws to protect parents from certain interventions based on their views about a minor child's gender identity. It prohibits peace officers or child welfare workers from removing a child or taking protective custody solely because a parent disagrees with the child's gender identity, supports the child's biological sex, or does not allow gender transition treatments (hormonal or surgical). The bill also prevents courts from using these parental positions as negative evidence in custody or parent-time disputes. These changes apply to all child custody proceedings involving minors and directly affect parents, child welfare agencies, and courts in Utah. The law defines key terms like "biological sex at birth" and "hormonal transgender treatment" to clarify these restrictions.

Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Governor

Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah child custody laws to prohibit courts and child welfare officials from discriminating against parents based on their child's gender identity or their decisions regarding gender-affirming care. It also restricts when peace officers can remove children from homes without warrants, requiring warrants in most non-emergency situations.

Scope change

The bill applies to all child custody proceedings and child welfare cases in Utah, expanding protections for parents and children regarding gender identity issues and search warrant requirements.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Friend', 'Nonrelative', and expanded the definition of 'Relative' to include extended family members.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements that peace officers and child welfare caseworkers must obtain search warrants before entering homes to remove children, except in exigent circumstances.

Added protections preventing removal of children based solely on educational neglect, truancy, or parental disagreement about gender identity or gender-affirming treatment.

Added court protections preventing discrimination against parents based on their child's gender identity or their decisions about gender-affirming care in custody proceedings.

Added provisions preventing courts from using negative inferences against parents regarding their child's gender identity or gender-affirming treatment decisions.

Modified custody factors to include evidence of psychological maltreatment and clarify that courts cannot discriminate based on parental status regarding gender identity or medical cannabis use.

Added requirement that child welfare caseworkers must determine if services are available before removing children from parental custody.

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

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor