A bill to tweak Utah’s adoption system to crack down on “adoption tourism” (as highlighted in a FOX 13 investigation of the practice) passed the legislature.
Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla sponsored a bill named for Gavin Peterson, the 12-year-old West Haven boy killed in a horrific child abuse case in 2024. It lets juvenile courts issue investigative warrants to check on a child if abuse is suspected. The bill failed in the House, infuriating some victims of high-profile abuse cases.
A bill to end “alienation of affection” lawsuits in Utah passed. Sen. Todd Weiler argued it treated people like property and was outdated. He also passed a bill doing away with “common law” marriage.
Rep. Melissa Garff-Ballard’s bill to crack down on underage marriages by taking children outside the state to be married passed the legislature.
Rep. Christine Watkins passed a bill tweaking the process for parents filing to modify some custody and guardianship agreements.
House Majority Whip Candice Pierucci passed a bill that would require more work with inmates who are pregnant or post-partum, including requiring jails and prisons to work with the inmate to establish child care.
Rep. Ray Ward sponsored a bill tweaking child support payments, including allowing someone to have their driver license suspended if they owe more than $35,000 in child support payments.
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore passed a bill to require state agencies, school districts and other government entities to consider the “impact on families” of regulations they pass.
The tax consequences of alimony will be considered by a judge under a bill that passed.
A bill to allow for civil lawsuits over the dissemination of “intimate images” passed.
