Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah HB333: Adoption Records Access Amendments
Status: Signed into law, March 18, 2026
This bill addresses access to adoption records.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 5, 2026:
0 Adoption Records Access Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Raymond P. Ward Senate Sponsor: Heidi Balderree LONG TITLE General Description: This bill addresses access to adoption records. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - clarifies that a provision allowing access to adoption records applies to all adoptions; and - allows a pre-existing parent to petition to seal an adoption record after a child adoptee is 18 years old. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 81-13-103 , as last amended by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 133 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 81-13-103 is amended to read: 81-13-103 . Court hearings -- Adoption documents -- Motion to intervene. (1) (a) Notwithstanding Section 80-4-106 , the court may close to the public any court hearing regarding an adoption upon the request of a party to the petition for adoption. (b) In a closed hearing, the court may only admit the following individuals: (i) a party to the proceeding; (ii) the adoptee; (iii) a representative of an agency having custody of the adoptee; (iv) in a hearing to relinquish parental rights, the individual whose rights are to be relinquished and invitees of that individual to provide emotional support; (v) in a …
Sponsors
- Ward, Raymond P. (R, 19) · primary sponsor
- Heidi Balderree (R, 22)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : House/ to Governor
- : House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- : House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- : Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- : Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- : Bill Received from House for Enrolling
- : House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- : House/ received from Senate
- : Senate/ to House
Votes
- Senate/ passed 3rd reading (March 3, 2026): 27 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 25, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation (February 25, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 20, 2026): 72 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 17, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation (February 17, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Health and Human Services, Adoption, Child Welfare
Common questions
- What is HB333?
- HB333 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Adoption Records Access Amendments.
- What does HB333 do?
- This bill addresses access to adoption records.
- What is the status of HB333?
- Signed into law as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB333?
- Ward, Raymond P. (R, 19), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB333?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/HB0333.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.