HB 29 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Child Visitation Amendments

HB 29 amends Utah law to update the legal standard for granting custody or visitation rights to individuals who are not parents (such as grandparents or family friends). The bill requires courts to find specific criteria before overriding parental rights, including evidence that the non-parent has formed a substantial emotional bond with the child, contributed to the child’s well-being, and that ending the relationship would substantially harm the child. It also clarifies that courts must make findings about a parent’s ability to care for the child or claims of parental abuse/neglect when reviewing these petitions. The changes directly affect non-parent petitioners, parents whose custody is challenged, and courts handling these cases, while prohibiting petitions against active-duty military parents.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's custody and visitation laws to clarify how courts handle cases where non-parents seek custody or visitation rights. It modifies the legal standard for granting such rights and adds specific criteria that must be met, particularly when a parent has a history of abuse or neglect. The changes aim to provide clearer guidance for courts while maintaining the presumption that parents' decisions are in the child's best interests.

Scope change

The bill applies to custody and visitation cases involving individuals other than parents, including situations where parents have abused or neglected the child, and includes provisions for cases pending as of March 25, 2017.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the legal standard from requiring the individual to prove the parent's inability to exercise custody to requiring the court to find by clear and convincing evidence that the parent is absent, unable to exercise primary physical custody, or has abused/neglected the child.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific criteria for individuals with disqualifying offenses (like child abuse convictions) to be considered for custody, including a 10-year waiting period after release from prison and requirements for evidence of rehabilitation.

Added requirements that if a responsible relative without a disqualifying offense exists, custody preference is given to that relative, and an impartial custody evaluation and guardian ad litem must be assigned before placing custody with someone who has a disqualifying offense.

TECHNICAL

Added clarifying language about the time period applicable to a court's findings regarding parental abuse or neglect.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Feb 7, 2025

Legislature · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

legislature

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor