Utah legislation · 2026 General Session
Utah SB185: Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments
Status: Signed into law, March 23, 2026
This bill addresses the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, February 25, 2026:
0 Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper House Sponsor: Rex P. Shipp LONG TITLE General Description: This bill addresses the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program. Highlighted Provisions: This bill: - allows the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program to: - provide education and support for all parental representation attorneys; - support indigent parental defense services through grants; and - administer the existing Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program; - removes the requirement for attorneys to be contracted; and - modifies the way the executive director shall prepare the budget. Money Appropriated in this Bill: None Other Special Clauses: None Utah Code Sections Affected: AMENDS: 78B-22-802 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapters 228, 235 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: Section 1. Section 78B-22-802 is amended to read: 78B-22-802 . Child Welfare Parental Representation Program -- Creation -- Duties -- Annual report -- Budget. (1) There is created within the office the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program. (2) (a) The office shall: (i) (a) administer and enforce the program in accordance with this part; (ii) (b) manage the operation and budget of the program; (iii) (c) develop and provide educational and training programs for contracted parental representation attorneys; (d) subject to appropriation from the …
Sponsors
- Wayne Harper (R, 16) · primary sponsor
- Shipp, Rex P. (R, 71)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : Senate/ to Governor
- : Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- : Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- : Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- : Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- : Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- : Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- : Senate/ received from House
- : House/ to Senate
Votes
- House/ passed 3rd reading (February 19, 2026): 71 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 17, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate/ passed 3rd reading (February 9, 2026): 24 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation (February 3, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation (February 3, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Parental Defense, Health and Human Services, Judicial Operations, Indigent Counsel, Child Welfare
Common questions
- What is SB185?
- SB185 is a bill in the Utah Legislature (2026 General Session): Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments.
- What does SB185 do?
- This bill addresses the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program.
- What is the status of SB185?
- Signed into law as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB185?
- Wayne Harper (R, 16), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB185?
- On the Utah Legislature website: https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0185.html
Source: official Utah record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.