H.B. 333 Adoption Records Access Amendments

What this bill does

H.B. 333 amends last year's adoption records law so that a birth parent in a closed adoption can ask the court to seal records before the child turns 18, rather than only once the child is an adult. It also requires that parents' physical addresses be redacted before records are given to the adopted child, and makes clear the law applies now to current adult adoptees.

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Every vote

• 11 yes, 0 noHouse Judiciary Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
• 11 yes, 0 noHouse Judiciary Committee: Consent Calendar Recommendation · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
• 72 yes, 0 no, 3 absentFinal House vote · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
• 3 yes, 0 no, 4 absentSenate Health and Human Services Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how
• 3 yes, 0 no, 4 absentSenate Health and Human Services Committee: Consent Calendar Recommendation · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how
• 27 yes, 0 no, 2 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 3, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Feb 13, 2026 House Judiciary Committee
• Feb 17, 2026 House Judiciary Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (13 turns)

  1. Committee chair55:39

     The first item on our agenda is House Bill 3 33, adoption records, access amendments. Representative Ward, welcome to the committee.

  2. Rep. Raymond P. Ward55:48

     Please proceed. Thank you Madam Chair. And, uh, thank you committee, um, colleagues, this is a small cleanup bill from a bill that we passed last year. That bill was House Bill 1 29, and, uh, this committee heard that bill last year. And thanks to the input from some of you that helped that Bill get into a, a very good place, uh, by the end. So I appreciate still that, um, discussion that we had last year. Um, just as a reminder, that Bill that we passed last year said that when a child of a closed adoption becomes an adult, um, they could then go and request their own personal medical records in this instance that meant their birth certificate. Um, and we made sure in the bill changes we made that they could not go request records from that process that pertained to their parents, just the records that pertained to themselves, um, as an individual would be available to them. Um, if we also, in that bill was put that if a parent of a closed adoption felt that they would be injured or at some kind of risk, if that information became available to the child, we put in a process by which the birth parent could still go and petition the court to keep that, uh, record sealed. Um, which is an important, uh, process. Um, the bill over the course of this last year has been implemented and is working, um, out in the wide world. And, uh, I, I'm content with that. I heard from a high school classmate of mine who graduated the same year that he was able to go and obtained his birth certificate. Um, he in his case found out that his parents had passed away, so there wasn't any happy reconciliation, but to him that gave him a sense of closure from what he went through. And he was very content that he was allowed to go see, um, his birth certificate. Um, over the course of this last year, the vital, uh, our vital statistics, um, had some small things that they felt were just needed to be tweaked in the bill. So this bill that I'm bringing you today is at their request, uh, for these small changes that they wish to see in the bill. And I agree that all of these changes, um, are small but important things that we should change. And so the three changes in the bill, um, in the initial bill, we said that, uh, a parent of one of those adoptions could petition the court when the child turned 18. And that's not correct. Really, they, they need to be able to petition the court before the child turns 18 if they're in a situation where that might be important to them. So this changes it so that they can make that petition before the child turns 18. Um, it also makes clear with a small change on lines 83, uh, nope, I'm sorry, on line 76, that the physical addresses of the parents would be redacted, uh, before the information was given to the child. And then upon line 70, um, it just makes clear what the, what I think was the clear intent last year, but by all statistics, wanted it to be more clear that we, the intention of the legislature was to implement the bill starting now, and that we did not intend for them to start implementing the bill 18 years from now. Um, and as, and again, the bill has already been implemented and is working fine. So that's the changes in the bill and I'm happy to answer any questions.

  3. Committee chair58:43

     Alright, thank you. We'll come back to the committee for clarifying questions. Representative Acton.

  4. Rep. Lisonbee Acton58:49

     Thank you, Madam Chair. So the birth certificate that, that you said they can only, it only gives the baby information. So is this a birth certificate that does not state the parents' names? No, It does state the parents names. Oh, it does. Which is again, typically considered a medical record to to know who your parents actually were. But for example, in an adoption process, there are other documents, like there could easily and probably would be an evaluation done of the parents and their life situation and things that might have been difficult for them. But that is a document that pertains to the parent, not to the child. So those kinds of documents would not be available to the child request. The birth certificate is the child's document first and foremost. Uh, and so that's the document that they can request and it, and it does have the parent's names on it, But those names would be redacted. That address would be redacted, But their names would remain on there, correct? Even if the parents opt for the ceiling? No, if the parents opt for the ceiling, then the child can't get it. Oh, okay. So, and, and can they opt for that ceiling of the record like immediately after the child's birth? No, and I mean, the record is, see the, if the parent chooses closed at the time of birth, then for the next 18 years, the parent closed, chose closed, closed, okay. And the child is still a child. So the parent's wishes take precedence for those 18 years. At the time the child becomes an adult, then they should have access to their own record. If there, if the parent feels that there is a reason that they would be harmed by the child knowing their actual birth parents, their actual birth record, then the parent may go and request that it be sealed for an additional 10 years, which they may do as many times in a row as they wish. So if they are in a situation where they might be harmed, then they can still go petition the court for that. But in most situations, the child's right to have their own record if the parent doesn't take any action, would be honored that they could see their parents, uh, uh, on their birth certificate.

  5. Committee chair1:00:43

     Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Representative Acton. Seeing no further lights will go to public comment.

  6. Committee chair1:00:51

     Are there any individuals in the audience that would like to speak to this bill? Seeing none. Are there any online? None online.

  7. Committee chair1:01:01

     Back to the committee for further discussion or potential action. Representative Miller,

  8. Rep. Tracy Miller1:01:09

     Thank you Madam Chair, I, uh, move to favorably recommend House Bill 3 3 3 to the house floor for their consideration. The motion is to favorably recommend House Bill 333 adoption records, access amendments to the house floor.

  9. Committee chair1:01:26

     Discussion. Would you like to speak to that representative? I'll waive, uh, discussion to the motion. Seeing no lights to Representative Ward, I'll wa All right. We'll do a roll call vote. Representative Abbott Aye. Acton? Yes. Er gracious. Yes. Hawkins? Yes. Lube? Yes. Manga. Aye. Millard. Aye. Thompson. Aye. Clancy? Yes. Libe. Aye. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. If the

  10. Committee chair1:02:07

      Committee feels consent was appropriate, I would ask that, if that seems right. Uh, Representative Loubet?

  11. Rep. Anthony E. Loubet1:02:21

      Thank you Madam Chair. I like to make a motion that this, uh, uh, bill be added to the consent agenda.

  12. Committee chair1:02:28

      The motion is to add this item to the consent agenda. Discussion to that motion. Seeing no lights will do a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion passes unanimously.

  13. Rep. Anthony E. Loubet1:02:43

      Thank you, Madam Chair and Committee.

• Feb 20, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (4 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)9:59

     Representative Ward.

  2. Rep. Raymond P. Ward10:01

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Colleagues. Last year we passed a bill that related to adoptions so that a child when they became an adult could request access to their own birth certificate and that bill has been implemented and is doing well. But Vital Records had requested a few small clarifications and so I bring this, this bill at their request. The clarifications are, um, that it, it says it clarifies which information the child can get and that they cannot get information, um, that relates to the parent instead of to them. Um, it clarifies also which dates of adoptions are required to be co covered. And when a parent is petitioning the court to have their records remain concealed, uh, for some particular reason, it expands the range of time in which they can do that. And that's my presentation.

  3. Speaker (presiding)10:59

     Thank you. Representative Board voting will now be open on HB 3 33. Seeing all present and voting. Voting is now closed.

  4. Speaker (presiding)12:15

     HP 3 33 passes this body with 72 yes votes, zero no votes will be sent to the Senate for its consideration. Madam Marine Clerk,

• Feb 25, 2026 Senate Health and Human Services Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (10 turns)

  1. Rep. Raymond P. Ward4:53

     And it has gone into effect. It's doing what it, uh, was meant to do. I've heard from a, a high school classmate of mine that he was able to go ask for his own, uh, birth certificate. And that, um, was important, uh, to, to him, it was meaningful to him to be able to do that. But in our Department of Vital Statistics, even though they're implementing a bill, they had a few small requests that they felt were important clarifications. And so that really is, are these changes? I bring this bill at their request. And the three small changes in the bill, um, are to clarify that a, a parent of a closed adoption, who feels that they do still need to request that the record remains sealed, does not have to wait till the child turns 18 to make that request. They can, they can do that before the child turns 18, which is correct. Um, that the physical addresses of the preexisting parents are not, that are not given to the child, though that's information that pertains to the parent, not to the child. Um, and then the clarification that the it does, that the bill is meant to apply to, uh, current individuals becoming adult adoptees. And that's all the changes. Mr. Chair.

  2. Committee chair5:56

     Okay. Thank you. We'll bring it to committee for further questions. See now we'll go to the public and if the public will speak to this. See now we bring, go back to committee for further action.

  3. Committee chair6:13

     Any, we're ready. Okay. Senator Plumb,

  4. Sen. Jen Plumb6:16

     I'd love to, uh, make a motion that we favorably recommend house bill 3, 3 3 out to the full body of Senate.

  5. Committee chair6:28

     Okay. The motion's in order. You speak to that anyone? Committee. Okay. Back to the bill sponsor. Um, I'll waive. Thank you. Make a motion. Waive. Waive. Okay. So the motion for is a pass out favorably. HB 3, 3, 3 adoption records assessment, access amendments. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay.

  6. Committee chair6:46

     That bill passes. Is this the kind of bill that would the committee would consider for consent?

  7. Unknown speaker6:51speaker not certain

     Uh, it sounds like it.

  8. Committee chair6:52

     Um, we'll take a motion from Senator Escamilla. Yeah.

  9. Sen. Luz Escamilla6:55

     So move Mr. Chair. Okay.

  10. Committee chair6:56

      Motions to place SB 3, 3, 3 on, or sorry, HB three. Three. Three on consent. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Its on consent. Thank you so much. Okay.

• Mar 3, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (3 turns)

  1. Rep. Raymond P. Ward31:24

     This is a follow up bill to the A bill that passed last year, which allowed individuals who were adopted to request access to their birth certificate once the individual became an adult or 18 years old. Vital records requested a few small clarifications that this bill addresses. First, it clarifies which information the child can get and clarifies that they cannot access information that relates to the parents instead of them. Second, it clarifies which dates of adoption are required to be covered. And third, it expands the time in which a parent can petition the court to have their records remain concealed. So, uh, a parent can request a new petition every 10 years if they prefer to have their records concealed. And with that I conclude my presentation and a move that house Bill three. Three three shall pass.

  2. Sen. J. Stuart Adams (presiding)32:12

     Thank you. And the question is, shall house Bill three thirty three pass. Roll call vote. Senator Vickers. Baldy Aye. Lewin Aye. Brammer Aye. Bus? Aye. Comore es Camilla Aye. Fillmore Aye. Grover Aye. Harper Aye. Hankins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson Juab McKay Mikel Aye. Milner Aye. Busman Owens pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson Stratton Aye. Vickers Aye. Weiler Aye. Wilson. Aye. Winterton President Adams Aye. House Bill 3 33 Having received 27 ye votes, zero nay votes, two being absent passes, his body will be signed by the President. And return to the house for the signature of the speaker house Bill 2 84 House Bill 2 84, murder offense amendments. Senator Brammer. Senator Brammer.

  3. Sen. Brady Brammer33:24

     Thank you. So what this does is it fixes an unintended drafting, uh, change in Utah's murder statute to ensure that the most extreme dangerous conduct, which would be acts showing utter, uh, disregard for human life, can still be prosecuted as murder. Uh, this would include situations such as firing a gun into a crowd or setting off a bomb. And so, uh, with that I would move that HB 2 84 pass.