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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0333" sponsor="Raymond P. Ward" designation="HB" otherSponsor="Heidi Balderree" otherHouse="Senate" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL0537" date="03-05-26" printDate="03-05 17:37" subVer="-2" minVer="1" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>3</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C81-13-S103_2026050620260506" fromuid="C81-13-S103_2025110120250507" sort="81 13 01030020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">81-13-103</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="2" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Adoption Records Access Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Raymond P. Ward</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: Heidi Balderree</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill addresses access to adoption records.</gd><hphead lineno="6">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="7" slineno="0-7">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8" level="1">clarifies that a provision allowing access to adoption records applies to all adoptions; and</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9" level="1">allows a pre-existing parent to petition to seal an adoption record after a child adoptee is <ln numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10"/>18 years old.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="12">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="13" slineno="0-13">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="14">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="81-13-103" src="code" uid="C81-13-S103_2026050620260506" buid="1" sort="81 13 01030020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="17" slineno="0-17"><bold>81-13-103</bold>, as last amended by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 133</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="18"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="19" slineno="0-19">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="81-13-103" type="amend" src="code" uid="C81-13-S103_2026050620260506" sort="81 13 01030020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="81-13-103" numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="20">Section 1. Section <bold>81-13-103</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="21"><bold>81-13-103<parens/>. Court hearings -- Adoption documents -- Motion to intervene.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="1-3" level="1" placement="noreturn" space="false"><display>(1)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-2" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Notwithstanding Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="80-4-106" start="0">80-4-106</xref>, the court may close to the public any court <ln numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="1-4"/>hearing regarding an adoption upon the request of a party to the petition for adoption.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-3" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="1-5" level="2"><display>(b)</display>In a closed hearing, the court may only admit the following individuals:<subsection ssid="1-null-4" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-6" level="3"><display>(i)</display>a party to the proceeding;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-5" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-7" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>the adoptee;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-6" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-8" level="3"><display>(iii)</display>a representative of an agency having custody of the adoptee;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-7" dnum="iv-o" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-9" level="3"><display>(iv)</display>in a hearing to relinquish parental rights, the individual whose rights are to be <ln numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-10"/>relinquished and invitees of that individual to provide emotional support;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-8" dnum="v-o" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-11" level="3"><display>(v)</display>in a hearing on the termination of parental rights, the individual whose rights may <ln numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-12"/>be terminated;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-9" dnum="vi-o" numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-13" level="3"><display>(vi)</display>in a hearing on a petition to intervene, the proposed intervenor;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-10" dnum="vii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-14" level="3"><display>(vii)</display>in a hearing to finalize an adoption, invitees of the petitioner; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-11" dnum="viii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-15" level="3"><display>(viii)</display>other individuals for good cause, upon order of the court.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-12" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-16" level="1"><display>(2)</display>Except as provided in Subsections <xref refnumber="78B-6-141(3)" depth="4">(3)</xref> through (7), an adoption document and any other <ln numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-17"/>documents filed in connection with a petition for adoption are sealed.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-13" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-18" level="1"><display>(3)</display>A person may only inspect and copy the documents described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(2)">(2)</xref>:<subsection ssid="1-null-14" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-19" level="2"><display>(a)</display>if the adoption proceeding is pending and the person is a party to the adoption <ln numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-20"/>proceeding;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-15" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-21" level="2"><display>(b)</display>within 180 days after the day on which the final decree of adoption is entered if the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-22"/>person is a party to the adoption proceeding;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-16" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-23" level="2"><display>(c)</display>if the court enters an order expressly permitting the inspection or copying the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-24"/>documents after the person filed a motion to intervene and the motion to intervene <ln numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-25"/>was granted on appeal;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-17" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-26" level="2"><display>(d)</display>if the court enters an order expressly permitting the inspection or copying of the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-27"/>documents after good cause is shown;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-18" dnum="e-o" numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-28" level="2"><display>(e)</display>if the office is permitted to release the documents to the person as described in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-29"/>Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="81-13-504">81-13-504</xref>;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-19" dnum="f-o" numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-30" level="2"><display>(f)</display>when the documents become public 100 years after the day on which the final decree <ln numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-31"/>of adoption was entered;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-20" dnum="g-o" numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-32" level="2"><display>(g)</display>when the birth certificate becomes public 100 years after the day on which the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-33"/>adoptee was born; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-21" dnum="h-o" numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-34" level="2"><display>(h)</display>if the person is permitted access to the documents under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)">(6)</xref> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(7)">(7)</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-22" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-35" level="1"><display>(4)</display>A person who files a motion to intervene in an adoption proceeding:<subsection ssid="1-null-23" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-36" level="2"><display>(a)</display>is not a party to the adoption proceeding, unless the motion to intervene is granted; <ln numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-37"/>and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-24" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-38" level="2"><display>(b)</display>subject to Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(5)">(5)</xref>, may not be granted access to the documents described in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-39"/>Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(2)">(2)</xref>, unless the motion to intervene is granted.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-25" dnum="5-o" numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-40" level="1"><display>(5)</display>If the court enters an order under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(3)(c)">(3)(c)</xref> or a potential birth father is made a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-41"/>party to the adoption proceeding upon a motion to intervene, the court shall:<subsection ssid="1-null-26" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-42" level="2"><display>(a)</display>prohibit the person described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(3)(c)">(3)(c)</xref> or the potential birth father from <ln numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-43"/>inspecting a document described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(2)">(2)</xref> that contains identifying <ln numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-44"/>information of an adoptive or prospective adoptive parent; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-27" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-45" level="2"><display>(b)</display>permit the person described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(3)(c)">(3)(c)</xref> or the potential birth father to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-46"/>review a copy of the document described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(5)(a)">(5)(a)</xref> after the identifying <ln numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-47"/>information of the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is redacted from the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-48"/>document.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-28" dnum="6-o" numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-49" level="1" space="false"><display>(6)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-29" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Unless there is a court order sealing the documents, a child adoptee may inspect <ln numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-50"/>and copy the following documents associated with the child adoptee's adoption, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-51"/>without a court order, <amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="29" groupid="21" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="both">regardless of the date of the adoption, </amend>if the child adoptee is 18 <ln numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-52"/>years old or older:<subsection ssid="1-null-30" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-53" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>the report of adoption;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-31" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-54" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>the original birth certificate;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-32" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-55" level="3" tab="1"><display>(iii)</display>the findings of fact for the adoption; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-33" dnum="iv-o" numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-56" level="3" tab="1"><display>(iv)</display>the final decree of adoption.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-48" dnum="_-o:b-e" numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-57" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="admin" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1033" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="start">(b)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="33" groupid="24" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="end">The physical addresses of a pre-existing parent shall be redacted before the child <ln numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-58"/>adoptee may inspect and copy the documents described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="81-13-103(6)(a)">(6)(a)</xref>.</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-34" dnum="b-o:c-e" numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-59" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1034" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(b)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1035" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(c)</amend></display>A pre-existing parent of a child adoptee may bring a petition in the court that <ln numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-60"/>entered the final decree of adoption to keep the documents described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(a)"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-61"/>(6)(a)</xref> sealed for 10 years<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="34" groupid="25" style="2" owner="admin" level="1" deltag="both"> after the day on which the child adoptee reaches 18 years <ln numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-62"/>old</amend><amendoutend style="2"/>.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-35" dnum="c-o:d-e" numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-63" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1035" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(c)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1036" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(d)</amend></display>The pre-existing parent shall<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="27" groupid="19" style="2" owner="admin" level="1" deltag="both">:</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="26" groupid="18" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true"> </amend><subsection ssid="1-null-36" dnum="i-o:_-e" numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-64" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="admin" style="2" level="3"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1036" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(i)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="18" groupid="11" style="2" owner="admin" level="1" deltag="end">file a petition described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(b)">(6)(b)</xref> before the child adoptee reaches 18 <ln numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-65"/>years old; and</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-37" dnum="ii-o:_-e" numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-66" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="admin" style="2" level="3"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1037" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(ii)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></display>include in the petition sufficient information for the court to reliably determine <ln numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-67"/>the adoption documents at issue in the petition.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-38" dnum="d-o:e-e" numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="1-68" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1038" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(d)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1039" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(e)</amend></display>The court may only grant the petition described in Subsection <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="43" groupid="34" style="2" owner="admin" level="1" deltag="both"><xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(b)">(6)(b)</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="39" groupid="30" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(6)(c)</amend> if <ln numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="1-69"/>the pre-existing parent establishes by sworn affidavit that the child adoptee's access <ln numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="1-70"/>to the documents described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(a)">(6)(a)</xref> would place the pre-existing parent <ln numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="1-71"/>in reasonable fear of harm from an individual.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-39" dnum="e-o:f-e" numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="1-72" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1039" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(e)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1040" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(f)</amend></display>If the court grants a pre-existing parent's petition, the documents described in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="1-73"/>Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(a)">(6)(a)</xref> shall remain sealed for 10 years from the entry of the order, unless <ln numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="1-74"/>the court permits access to the documents under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(3)(d)">(3)(d)</xref>.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-40" dnum="f-o:g-e" numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="1-75" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1040" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(f)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1041" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(g)</amend></display>The pre-existing parent may bring a new petition every 10 years for an order <ln numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="1-76"/>extending the sealing of the documents described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(a)">(6)(a)</xref> for an <ln numlevel="1" lineno="96" slineno="1-77"/>additional 10 years.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-41" dnum="g-o:h-e" numlevel="1" lineno="97" slineno="1-78" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1041" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(g)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1042" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(h)</amend></display>The pre-existing parent shall file a petition described in Subsection <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="44" groupid="35" style="2" owner="admin" level="1" deltag="both"><xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(f)">(6)(f)</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="40" groupid="31" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(6)(g)</amend> <ln numlevel="1" lineno="98" slineno="1-79"/>before the expiration of the previous order.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-42" dnum="h-o:i-e" numlevel="1" lineno="99" slineno="1-80" level="2"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1042" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="both">(h)</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1043" style="1" owner="e" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(i)</amend></display>A petition to extend the sealing of the documents described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(a)">(6)(a)</xref> <ln numlevel="1" lineno="100" slineno="1-81"/>shall satisfy all of the requirements described in Subsections <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="45" groupid="36" style="2" owner="admin" level="1" deltag="both"><xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(6)(b)">(6)(b)</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="41" groupid="32" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(6)(c)</amend> through <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="46" groupid="37" style="2" owner="admin" level="1" deltag="both"><xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(d)"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="101" slineno="1-82"/>(d)</xref></amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="42" groupid="33" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">(e)</amend> for the original petition.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-43" dnum="7-o" numlevel="1" lineno="102" slineno="1-83" level="1"><display>(7)</display>An adult adoptee, or the adoptive parent of the adult adoptee, may inspect an adoption <ln numlevel="1" lineno="103" slineno="1-84"/>document associated with the adult adoptee's adoption without a court order, unless the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="104" slineno="1-85"/>final decree of adoption is entered by the juvenile court.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-44" dnum="8-o" numlevel="1" lineno="105" slineno="1-86" level="1"><display>(8)</display>A pre-existing parent may not access the documents described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="78B-6-141(2)">(2)</xref>.</subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="2" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="106" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="106">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="107"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="admin" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>3-5-26 10:05 AM</tm></rev></foot></leg>