Section 1, Section 26B-8-125 is amended to read:26B-8-125. Inspection of vital records.(1)As used in this section:(a)"Designated legal representative" means an attorney, physician, funeral service director, genealogist, or other agent of the subject, or an immediate family member of the subject, who has been delegated the authority to access vital records.(b)"Drug use intervention or suicide prevention effort" means a program that studies or promotes the prevention of drug overdose deaths or suicides in the state.(c)"Immediate family member" means a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild.(2)(a)The vital records shall be open to inspection, but only in compliance with the provisions of this part, department rules, and Sections 78B-6-141 and 78B-6-144.(b)It is unlawful for any state or local officer or employee to disclose data contained in vital records contrary to this part, department rule, Section 78B-6-141, or Section 78B-6-144.(c)(i)An adoption document is open to inspection as provided in Section 78B-6-141 or Section 78B-6-144.(ii)A birth parent may not access an adoption document under Subsection 78B-6-141(3).(d)A custodian of vital records may permit inspection of a vital record or issue a certified copy of a record or a part of a record when the custodian is satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest.(3)Except as provided in Subsection (4), a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest in a vital record is present only if:(a)the request is from:(i)the subject;(ii)an immediate family member of the subject;(iii)the guardian of the subject;(iv)a designated legal representative of the subject; or(v)a person, including a child-placing agency as defined in Section 78B-6-103, with whom a child has been placed pending finalization of an adoption of the child;(b)the request involves a personal or property right of the subject of the record;(c)the request is for official purposes of a public health authority or a state, local, or federal governmental agency;(d)the request is for a drug use intervention or suicide prevention effort or a statistical or medical research program and prior consent has been obtained from the state registrar; or(e)the request is a certified copy of an order of a court of record specifying the record to be examined or copied.(4)(a)Except as provided in Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 1, Utah Adoption Act, a parent, or an immediate family member of a parent, who does not have legal or physical custody of or visitation or parent-time rights for a child because of the termination of parental rights under Title 80, Chapter 4, Termination and Restoration of Parental Rights, or by virtue of consenting to or relinquishing a child for adoption pursuant to Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 1, Utah Adoption Act, may not be considered as having a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest under this section.(b)Except as provided in Subsection (2)(d), a commercial firm or agency requesting names, addresses, or similar information may not be considered as having a direct, tangible, and legitimate interest under this section.(5)Upon payment of a fee established in accordance with Section 63J-1-504, the office shall make the following records available to the public:(a)except as provided in Subsection 26B-8-110(4)(b), a birth record, excluding confidential information collected for medical and health use, if 100 years or more have passed since the date of birth;(b)a death record if 50 years or more have passed since the date of death; and(c)a vital record not subject to Subsection (5)(a) or (b) if 75 years or more have passed since the date of the event upon which the record is based.(6)Upon payment of a fee established in accordance with Section 63J-1-504, the office shall make an adoption document available as provided in Sections 78B-6-141 and 78B-6-144.(7)The office shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, establishing procedures and the content of forms as follows:(a)for the inspection of adoption documents under Subsection 78B-6-141(4)78B-6-141(3);(b)for a birth parent's election to permit identifying information about the birth parent to be made available, under Section 78B-6-141;(c)(b)for the release of information by the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry, under Section 78B-6-144;(d)(c)for collecting fees and donations under Section 78B-6-144.5; and(e)(d)for the review and approval of a request described in Subsection (3)(d).

Section 2, Section 78A-6-103 is amended to read:78A-6-103. Original jurisdiction of the juvenile court -- Magistrate functions -- Findings -- Transfer of a case from another court.(1)Except as provided in Subsection (3), the juvenile court has original jurisdiction over:(a)a felony, misdemeanor, infraction, or violation of an ordinance, under municipal, state, or federal law, that was committed by a child;(b)a felony, misdemeanor, infraction, or violation of an ordinance, under municipal, state, or federal law, that was committed by an individual:(i)who is under 21 years old at the time of all court proceedings; and(ii)who was under 18 years old at the time the offense was committed; and(c)a misdemeanor, infraction, or violation of an ordinance, under municipal or state law, that was committed:(i)by an individual:(A)who was 18 years old and enrolled in high school at the time of the offense; and(B)who is under 21 years old at the time of all court proceedings; and(ii)on school property where the individual was enrolled:(A)when school was in session; or(B)during a school-sponsored activity, as defined in Section 53G-8-211.(2)The juvenile court has original jurisdiction over:(a)any proceeding concerning:(i)a child who is an abused child, neglected child, or dependent child;(ii)a protective order for a child in accordance with Title 78B, Chapter 7, Part 2, Child Protective Orders;(iii)the appointment of a guardian of the individual or other guardian of a minor who comes within the court's jurisdiction under other provisions of this section;(iv)the emancipation of a minor in accordance with Title 80, Chapter 7, Emancipation;(v)the termination of parental rights in accordance with Title 80, Chapter 4, Termination and Restoration of Parental Rights, including termination of residual parental rights and duties;(vi)the treatment or commitment of a minor who has an intellectual disability;(vii)the judicial consent to the marriage of a minor who is 16 or 17 years old in accordance with Section 81-2-304;(viii)an order for a parent or a guardian of a child under Subsection 80-6-705(3);(ix)a minor under Title 80, Chapter 6, Part 11, Interstate Compact for Juveniles;(x)the treatment or commitment of a child with a mental illness;(xi)the commitment of a child to a secure drug or alcohol facility in accordance with Section 26B-5-204;(xii)a minor found not competent to proceed in accordance with Title 80, Chapter 6, Part 4, Competency;(xiii)de novo review of final agency actions resulting from an informal adjudicative proceeding as provided in Section 63G-4-402;(xiv)adoptions conducted in accordance with the procedures described in Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 1, Utah Adoption Act, if the juvenile court has previously entered an order terminating the rights of a parent and finds that adoption is in the best interest of the child;(xv)an ungovernable or runaway child who is referred to the juvenile court by the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services if, despite earnest and persistent efforts by the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, the child has demonstrated that the child:(A)is beyond the control of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian to the extent that the child's behavior or condition endangers the child's own welfare or the welfare of others; or(B)has run away from home; and(xvi)a criminal information filed under Part 4a, Adult Criminal Proceedings, for an adult alleged to have committed an offense under Subsection 78A-6-352(4)(b) for failure to comply with a promise to appear and bring a child to the juvenile court;(b)a petition for expungement under Title 80, Chapter 6, Part 10, Juvenile Records and Expungement; (c)the extension of a nonjudicial adjustment under Section 80-6-304;(d)a petition for special findings under Section 80-3-305; and(e)a referral of a minor for being a habitual truant as defined in Section 53G-8-211.; and(f)a pre-existing parent's petition to seal adoption documents as described in Subsection 78B-6-141(5).(3)The juvenile court does not have original jurisdiction over an offense committed by a minor as described in Subsection (1) if:(a)the district court has original jurisdiction over the offense under Section 78A-5-102.5;(b)the district court has original jurisdiction over the offense under Subsection 78A-5-102(8), unless the juvenile court has exclusive jurisdiction over the offense under Section 78A-6-103.5; or(c)the justice court has original jurisdiction over the offense under Subsection 78A-7-106(2), unless the juvenile court has exclusive jurisdiction over the offense under Section 78A-6-103.5.(4)It is not necessary for a minor to be adjudicated for an offense or violation of the law under Section 80-6-701 for the juvenile court to exercise jurisdiction under Subsection (2)(a)(xvi), (b), or (c).(5)This section does not restrict the right of access to the juvenile court by private agencies or other persons.(6)The juvenile court has jurisdiction of all magistrate functions relative to cases arising under Title 80, Chapter 6, Part 5, Transfer to District Court.(7)The juvenile court has jurisdiction to make a finding of substantiated, unsubstantiated, or without merit, in accordance with Section 80-3-404.(8)The juvenile court has jurisdiction over matters transferred to the juvenile court by another trial court in accordance with Subsection 78A-7-106(6) and Section 80-6-303.(9)The juvenile court has jurisdiction to enforce foreign protection orders as described in Subsection 78B-7-303(8).

Section 3, Section 78B-6-141 is amended to read:78B-6-141. Court hearings may be closed -- Adoption documents.(1)(a)Notwithstanding Section 80-4-106, court hearings in adoption cases may be closed to the public upon request of a party to the adoption petition and upon court approval.(b)In a closed hearing, only the following individuals may be admitted:(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 hearing on the termination of parental rights, the individual whose rights may be terminated;(vi)in a hearing on a petition to intervene, the proposed intervenor;(vii)in a hearing to finalize an adoption, invitees of the petitioner; and(viii)other individuals for good cause, upon order of the court.(2)AnExcept as provided in Subsections (3) and (4), an adoption document and any other documents filed in connection with a petition for adoption are sealed.(3)The documents described in Subsection (2) may only be open to inspection and copying:(a)in accordance with Subsection (5)(a), by a party to the adoption proceeding:(i)while the proceeding is pending; or(ii)within six months after the day on which the adoption decree is entered;(b)subject to Subsection (5)(b), if a court enters an order permitting access to the documents by an individual who has appealed the denial of that individual's motion to intervene;(c)upon order of the court expressly permitting inspection or copying, after good cause has been shown;(d)as provided under Section 78B-6-144;(e)when the adoption document becomes public on the one hundredth anniversary of the date the final decree of adoption was entered;(f)when the birth certificate becomes public on the one hundredth anniversary of the date of birth; or(g)to a mature adoptee or a parent who adopted the mature adoptee, without a court order, unless the final decree of adoption is entered by the juvenile court under Subsection 78B-6-115(3)(b); or.(h)to an adult adoptee, to the extent permitted under Subsection (4).(4)(a)An adult adoptee that was born in the state may access an adoption document associated with the adult adoptee's adoption without a court order:(i)to the extent that a birth parent consents under Subsection (4)(b); or(ii)if the birth parents listed on the original birth certificate are deceased.(b)A birth parent may:(i)provide consent to allow the access described in Subsection (4)(a) by electing, electronically or on a written form provided by the office, allowing the birth parent to elect to:(A)allow the office to provide the adult adoptee with the contact information of the birth parent that the birth parent indicates;(B)allow the office to provide the adult adoptee with the contact information of an intermediary that the birth parent indicates;(C)prohibit the office from providing any contact information to the adult adoptee;(D)allow the office to provide the adult adoptee with a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate; and(ii)at any time, file, electronically or on a written document with the office, to:(A)change the election described in Subsection (4)(b); or(B)elect to make other information about the birth parent, including an updated medical history, available for inspection by an adult adoptee.(c)A birth parent may not access any identifying information or an adoption document under this Subsection (4).(d)If two birth parents are listed on the original birth certificate and only one birth parent consents under Subsection (4)(b) or is deceased, the office may redact the name of the other birth parent.(4)(a)Unless there is a court order sealing the documents, an adult adoptee may inspect and copy the following adoption documents associated with the adult adoptee's adoption, without a court order:(i)the report of adoption;(ii)the original birth certificate;(iii)the findings of fact for the adoption; and (iv)the final decree of adoption.(b)A pre-existing parent of an adult adoptee may bring a petition in the court that entered the final decree of adoption to keep the documents described in Subsection (4)(a) sealed for 10 years after the day on which the adult adoptee reaches 18 years old.(c)The pre-existing parent shall:(i)file a petition described in Subsection (4)(a) before the adoptee reaches 18 years old; and(ii)include in the petition sufficient information for the court to reliably determine the adoption documents at issue in the petition.(d)The court may only grant the petition described in Subsection (4)(b) if the pre-existing parent establishes by sworn affidavit that the adult adoptee's access to the documents described in Subsection (4)(a) would place the pre-existing parent in reasonable fear of harm from an individual.(e)If the court grants a pre-existing parent's petition, the documents described in Subsection (4)(a) shall remain sealed for 10 years from the entry of the order, unless the court permits access to the documents under Subsection (3)(c).(f)The pre-existing parent may bring a new petition every 10 years for an order extending the sealing of the documents described in Subsection (4)(a) for an additional 10 years.(g)The pre-existing parent shall file a petition described in Subsection (4)(f) before the expiration of the previous order.(h)A petition to extend the sealing of the documents described in Subsection (4)(a) shall satisfy all of the requirements described in Subsections (4)(b) through (d) for the original petition.(5)(a)An individual who files a motion to intervene in an adoption proceeding:(i)is not a party to the adoption proceeding, unless the motion to intervene is granted; and(ii)may not be granted access to the documents described in Subsection (2), unless the motion to intervene is granted.(b)An order described in Subsection (3)(b) shall:(i)prohibit the individual described in Subsection (3)(b) from inspecting a document described in Subsection (2) that contains identifying information of the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent; and(ii)permit the individual described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) to review a copy of a document described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) after the identifying information described in Subsection (5)(b)(i)of the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is redacted from the document.

Section 4. Effective Date.This bill takes effect on November 1, 2025.

Section 5. Coordinating H.B. 129 with S.B. 119.If H.B. 129, Adoption Records Access Amendments, and S.B. 119, Domestic Relations Recodification, both pass and become law, the Legislature intends that:(1)on September 1, 2025, the coordination clause in S.B. 119 that coordinates H.B. 129 with S.B. 119 not take effect; and(2)on November 1, 2025:(a)Subsection 26B-8-125(7) be amended to read:"(7) The office shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, establishing procedures and the content of forms as follows:(a) for the inspection of adoption documents under Subsection 78B-6-141(4)81-13-103(3);(b) for a birth parent's election to permit identifying information about the birth parent to be made available, under Section 78B-6-141;(c)(b) for the release of information by the mutual-consent, voluntary adoption registry, under Section 78B-6-144 as described in Section 81-13-504;(d)(c) for collecting fees and donations under Section 78B-6-144.581-13-505; and(e)(d) for the review and approval of a request described in Subsection (3)(d).";(b)the reference in Subsection 78A-6-103(2)(f) in H.B. 129 be changed from "Subsection 78B-6-141(5)" to "Subsection 81-13-103(6)";(c)Section 81-13-103 (renumbered from Section 78B-6-141) in S.B. 119 be amended to read:" 78B-6-14181-13-103. Court hearings -- Adoption documents -- Motion to intervene.(1)(a) Notwithstanding Section 80-4-106, court hearings in adoption cases may be closed to the publicthe court may close to the public any court hearing regarding an adoption upon the request of a party to the adoption petition and upon court approvalpetition for adoption.(b) In a closed hearing, the court may only admit the following individuals may be admitted:(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 hearing on the termination of parental rights, the individual whose rights may be terminated;(vi) in a hearing on a petition to intervene, the proposed intervenor;(vii) in a hearing to finalize an adoption, invitees of the petitioner; and(viii) other individuals for good cause, upon order of the court.(2) AnExcept as provided in Subsection (3) through (7), an adoption document and any other documents filed in connection with a petition for adoption are sealed. (3) The documents described in Subsection (2) may only be open to inspection and copying:(a) in accordance with Subsection (5)(a), by a party to the adoption proceeding:(i) while the proceeding is pending; or(ii) within six months after the day on which the adoption decree is entered;(b) subject to Subsection (5)(b), if a court enters an order permitting access to the documents by an individual who has appealed the denial of that individual's motion to intervene;(c) upon order of the court expressly permitting inspection or copying, after good cause has been shown;(d) as provided under Section 78B-6-144;(e) when the adoption document becomes public on the one hundredth anniversary of the date the final decree of adoption was entered;(f) when the birth certificate becomes public on the one hundredth anniversary of the date of birth;(g) to a mature adoptee or a parent who adopted the mature adoptee, without a court order, unless the final decree of adoption is entered by the juvenile court under Subsection 78B-6-115(3)(b); or(h) to an adult adoptee, to the extent permitted under Subsection (4).(4)(a) An adult adoptee that was born in the state may access an adoption document associated with the adult adoptee's adoption without a court order:(i) to the extent that a birth parent consents under Subsection (4)(b); or(ii) if the birth parents listed on the original birth certificate are deceased.(b) A birth parent may:(i) provide consent to allow the access described in Subsection (4)(a) by electing, electronically or on a written form provided by the office, allowing the birth parent to elect to:(A) allow the office to provide the adult adoptee with the contact information of the birth parent that the birth parent indicates;(B) allow the office to provide the adult adoptee with the contact information of an intermediary that the birth parent indicates;(C) prohibit the office from providing any contact information to the adult adoptee;(D) allow the office to provide the adult adoptee with a noncertified copy of the original birth certificate; and(ii) at any time, file, electronically or on a written document with the office, to:(A) change the election described in Subsection (4)(b); or(B) elect to make other information about the birth parent, including an updated medical history, available for inspection by an adult adoptee.(c) A birth parent may not access any identifying information or an adoption document under this Subsection (4).(d) If two birth parents are listed on the original birth certificate and only one birth parent consents under Subsection (4)(b) or is deceased, the office may redact the name of the other birth parent.(5)(a) An individual who files a motion to intervene in an adoption proceeding:(i) is not a party to the adoption proceeding, unless the motion to intervene is granted; and(ii) may not be granted access to the documents described in Subsection (2), unless the motion to intervene is granted.(b) An order described in Subsection (3)(b) shall:(i) prohibit the individual described in Subsection (3)(b) from inspecting a document described in Subsection (2) that contains identifying information of the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent; and(ii) permit the individual described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) to review a copy of a document described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) after the identifying information described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) is redacted from the document.(3) A person may only inspect and copy the documents described in Subsection (2):(a) if the adoption proceeding is pending and the person is a party to the adoption proceeding;(b) within 180 days after the day on which the final decree of adoption is entered if the person is a party to the adoption proceeding;(c) if the court enters an order expressly permitting the inspection or copying the documents after the person filed a motion to intervene and the motion to intervene was granted on appeal;(d) if the court enters an order expressly permitting the inspection or copying of the documents after good cause is shown;(e) if the office is permitted to release the documents to the person as described in Section 81-13-504;(f) when the documents become public 100 years after the day on which the final decree of adoption was entered;(g) when the birth certificate becomes public 100 years after the day on which the adoptee was born; or(h) if the person is permitted access to the documents under Subsection (6) or (7).(4) A person who files a motion to intervene in an adoption proceeding:(a) is not a party to the adoption proceeding, unless the motion to intervene is granted; and(b) subject to Subsection (5), may not be granted access to the documents described in Subsection (2), unless the motion to intervene is granted.(5) If the court enters an order under Subsection (3)(c) or a potential birth father is made a party to the adoption proceeding upon a motion to intervene, the court shall:(a) prohibit the person described in Subsection (3)(c) or the potential birth father from inspecting a document described in Subsection (2) that contains identifying information of an adoptive or prospective adoptive parent; and(b) permit the person described in Subsection (3)(c) or the potential birth father to review a copy of the document described in Subsection (5)(a) after the identifying information of the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is redacted from the document.(6) (a) Unless there is a court order sealing the documents, a child adoptee may inspect and copy the following documents associated with the child adoptee's adoption, without a court order, if the child adoptee is 18 years old or older:(i) the report of adoption;(ii) the original birth certificate;(iii) the findings of fact for the adoption; and(iv) the final decree of adoption.(b) A pre-existing parent of a child adoptee may bring a petition in the court that entered the final decree of adoption to keep the documents described in Subsection (6)(a) sealed for 10 years after the day on which the child adoptee reaches 18 years old.(c) The pre-existing parent shall:(i) file a petition described in Subsection (6)(b) before the child adoptee reaches 18 years old; and(ii) include in the petition sufficient information for the court to reliably determine the adoption documents at issue in the petition.(d) The court may only grant the petition described in Subsection (6)(b) if the pre-existing parent establishes by sworn affidavit that the child adoptee's access to the documents described in Subsection (6)(a) would place the pre-existing parent in reasonable fear of harm from an individual.(e) If the court grants a pre-existing parent's petition, the documents described in Subsection (6)(a) shall remain sealed for 10 years from the entry of the order, unless the court permits access to the documents under Subsection (3)(d).(f) The pre-existing parent may bring a new petition every 10 years for an order extending the sealing of the documents described in Subsection (6)(a) for an additional 10 years.(g) The pre-existing parent shall file a petition described in Subsection (6)(f) before the expiration of the previous order.(h) A petition to extend the sealing of the documents described in Subsection (6)(a) shall satisfy all of the requirements described in Subsections (6)(b) through (d) for the original petition.(7) An adult adoptee, or the adoptive parent of the adult adoptee, may inspect an adoption document associated with the adult adoptee's adoption without a court order, unless the final decree of adoption is entered by the juvenile court.(8) A pre-existing parent may not access the documents described in Subsection (2)."; and(d)the changes to Section 78B-6-141 in H.B. 129 not be made.