SB 208 Utah Senate · 2025 General Session

Parent-time and Custody Amendments

SB 208 updates Utah's custody and parent-time laws to better support children and families. It prevents courts from requiring parents who relocated due to domestic violence to share their new address, adds Juneteenth to parent-time schedules (coordinating with another bill), and removes Columbus Day/Veterans Day from holiday schedules. The bill also mandates that summer parent-time periods must be consecutive and clarifies rules for scheduling consistency around holidays like Mother's and Father's Day. These changes apply directly to parents, children, and courts handling custody disputes in Utah.

Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Governor

Introduced Feb 3, 2025 Last action Mar 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's parent-time and custody laws to address modern family dynamics, including changes for children turning five, relocation scenarios, and holiday schedules. It removes Columbus Day and Veterans Day from standard parent-time schedules while adding Juneteenth National Freedom Day, and clarifies rules for virtual contact and extended summer time.

Scope change

The bill expands applicability to include children turning five as a trigger for custody review and modifies relocation rules to protect parents fleeing domestic violence without requiring address disclosure.

ELIGIBILITY

A child turning five years old now constitutes a substantial change in circumstances allowing custody or parent-time modification.

REQUIREMENT

Columbus Day and Veterans Day are removed from the standard parent-time holiday schedule.

Juneteenth National Freedom Day is added to the parent-time holiday schedule.

Courts cannot require a parent to disclose their address if they relocated due to domestic or family violence by the other parent.

Extended summer parent-time must now be consecutive rather than split between parents.

DEFINITION

Virtual parent-time is explicitly recognized as a supplement to in-person contact when equipment is reasonably available.

TIMELINE

Effective date set for May 7, 2025, with coordination provisions for Juneteenth holiday adjustments effective January 1, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor