All Roll Calls
Yes: 204 • No: 1
UtahH.B. 512026 General SessionHouseWALLET
Adoption Amendments
Sponsored By: Katy Hall (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AdoptionFamilyHealth and Human ServicesHealth CareHealth Care FacilitiesChild WelfareMental HealthJudicial OperationsDepartment of Health and Human ServicesOffice of Licensing and Background ChecksParentage
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
12 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 3 costs, 4 mixed.
Utah Medicaid excludes birth-only visitors
Beginning May 6, 2026, people traveling to Utah only to give birth cannot qualify for Utah Medicaid if they do not plan to stay afterward. Both conditions must apply.
Birth parents can withdraw adoption consent
Birth parents can withdraw adoption consent or relinquishment for any reason within 72 hours after signing. They may waive that period only in writing. Before the final adoption order, a court may allow withdrawal if the agency used duress, fraud, or undue influence. Parents cannot sign while anesthesia or medication prevents clear thinking. These rules exclude voluntary relinquishments made in juvenile court under Section 80-4-307.
Birth parents get counsel and pressure protections
Birth parents can choose independent legal counsel before adoption consent or relinquishment; the agency or prospective adoptive parents pay reasonable costs. Parents must have time to use counsel and cannot be required to waive it or accept it as a placement condition. A signed statement confirming advice about this right must be filed before the final adoption order. Agencies, their workers, and prospective adoptive parents cannot threaten retaliation, block leaving or private support contacts, or promise money for consent. Adoptive parents and licensed agencies cannot discuss or promise post-adoption gifts before the adoption is final.
Paid therapy support for birth parents
Parents whose consent is needed for a minor child's adoption can choose therapy from a Utah-licensed mental health professional. They can receive three sessions before giving up parental rights and three afterward, each lasting at least 50 minutes. The agency or prospective adoptive parents must pay up to $800 total. Higher payments require a signed agreement between the parent and payer, and therapy after relinquishment requires a payment agreement. Parents may waive therapy.
Birth-mother travel limits and return guarantees
Licensed private adoption agencies cannot arrange travel to Utah for birth mothers under 18. They also cannot arrange it at 36 weeks pregnant or later when they know or should know the pregnancy stage. Agencies must make a reasonable health inquiry and check whether an out-of-state mother receives Medicaid before arranging travel. A minor's parent or guardian may independently arrange travel or travel with her. Agencies that bring a birth mother to Utah must arrange her return if she chooses not to stay, using the same travel mode and quality, whether or not she agrees to adoption.
Birth-parent support comes with payment caps
Licensed private adoption agencies may pay up to $8,000 in birth-parent living expenses, plus medical and adoption-related legal costs. Weekly allowances are capped at $200 for the birth parent and $75 for each directly affected dependent. Allowances cover up to 12 pregnancy weeks and four weeks after birth, and must be paid weekly. Other payments must go directly to service providers when possible. The state agency consortium can approve higher limits based on a specific need; these payments are not guaranteed.
Families get clearer adoption agency warnings
Adoption ads must list the states where the advertiser is licensed or say it has no state license. Ads cannot promise financial incentives. Licensed private agencies must prominently post complaint instructions and Office of Licensing warnings or violations from the past three years. Birthing facilities must set adoption policies and report complaints or actions against agencies; facilities and staff may report unethical practices. The Office must investigate agency violations of adoption-service rules and may suspend or revoke licenses.
Families get fuller adoption cost disclosures
Before the final adoption order, an affidavit must disclose legal, medical, agency, and support costs, gifts, public funds, and services. It must list where birth and prospective adoptive parents lived during the 12 months before birth. The placing agency or arranging attorney must send it to the Office of Licensing within 60 days after finalization; stepparent adoptions are exempt. Agencies must disclose members' financial interests in paid service providers to birth parents, prospective adoptive parents, the Office, and court. The Office must investigate agency failures to follow affidavit rules and may suspend or revoke licenses.
Parents lose adoption therapy damages remedy
Missing required therapy notice or payment does not cancel a parent's adoption consent or relinquishment. The law removes the specific right to sue for damages caused by that failure. The duties to provide notice and pay for therapy remain.
Private adoption agencies must become nonprofits
Beginning January 1, 2027, private adoption agencies must be nonprofit organizations to get or renew a Utah license. The Office of Licensing cannot issue or renew these licenses for private providers that are not nonprofits.
Adoption agencies gain protections but must refer
Consortium agencies may decline placements that conflict with their religious beliefs or a birth mother's good-faith wishes about the child's placement. When the prospective adoptive parent is qualified, governments and licensing or accrediting bodies cannot compel participation or penalize that refusal. Protections cover licenses, funding, contracts, fines, other administrative penalties, and state or local claims. An agency declining for these reasons must refer the person seeking placement services to another consortium agency. The referral does not decide whether the placement is best for the child.
Adoption agencies share oversight and fees
Every licensed private adoption agency must join Utah's new adoption agency consortium, which meets at least quarterly. It advises lawmakers and reports 2025 adoption, transport, and fee information by October 1, 2026. Agencies seeking higher birth-parent payments must request a specific amount and show a specific need. Approval requires a majority of other members; documented actual living expenses or lost wages are presumed to justify higher payments. The Office of Licensing may charge agencies enough to cover consortium staffing.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Katy Hall
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Chris H. Wilson
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/27/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 66 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 21 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 0
House vote • 2/4/2026
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/4/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/4/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 66 • No: 1
House vote • 2/3/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 1/23/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • 1/23/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/25/2026House/ to Governor
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/5/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/5/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/3/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/3/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/2/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/2/2026HouseSenate/ to House
2/27/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
2/27/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/27/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/27/2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
2/27/2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
2/26/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/26/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd reading
2/25/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/25/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/20/2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ substituted
2/20/2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/19/2026Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
2/19/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/5/2026
Substitute #4
2/13/2026
Substitute #3
2/3/2026
Substitute #2
1/23/2026
Substitute #1
1/22/2026
Introduced
12/19/2025