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HB 372UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah Establishes Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee and Modifies Child Welfare Procedures

Original title: Child Welfare Changes

Last action · March 18, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Karianne Lisonbee and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Utah enacts HB 372 to create a Oversight Committee, modify the responsibilities of the Office of Guardian ad Litem director, and require attorney guardians ad litem to inform the court of a minor's attendance desires and recent interaction dates at each hearing, effective May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

The measure establishes structured legislative and judicial oversight of the statewide program, altering reporting obligations, case reviews, and courtroom procedures for attorneys representing minors in abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings.

Background
  • The Utah Legislature periodically updates the Utah Code governing juvenile courts, child welfare proceedings, and the Office of Guardian ad Litem to ensure the protection of minors. context
  • Guardians ad litem in Utah represent the best interests of children in abuse, neglect, and dependency cases handled by the juvenile court system. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

minors in child welfare proceedings

Minors are directly represented by attorney guardians ad litem whose duties, interaction tracking, and court reporting requirements are modified by the measure.

Directly affected

attorney guardians ad litem

Attorney guardians ad litem must adhere to new reporting mandates at each hearing regarding minor interactions and attend mandatory training standards.

Directly affected

Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee

The newly established committee assumes oversight, review, and evaluation responsibilities over the statewide guardian ad litem program.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the newly created Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee?
The committee is established to oversee the statewide program, evaluate compliance with statutory obligations, assess program effectiveness in various abuse and neglect cases, review randomly selected case samples, and make recommendations.
What information must an attorney guardian ad litem present at every court hearing?
The attorney must inform the court whether the minor expressed a desire to be present at the hearing and the date of the attorney's most recent interaction with the minor, including whether the interaction was in person, via electronic communication, or through an assigned volunteer.
Are fatality review documents open to public subpoena or discovery?
No. s are not subject to discovery, subpoena, or similar compulsory process in any civil, judicial, or administrative proceeding, and individuals cannot be compelled to testify regarding them.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

60 actions
  1. Mar 18, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 11, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 11, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 54 earlier actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Mar 4, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  7. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  8. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  9. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  10. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  11. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  12. Mar 3, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  13. Feb 25, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0372S05
  14. Feb 25, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  15. Feb 24, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0372S05
  16. Feb 24, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0372S04
  17. Feb 24, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0372S04
  18. Feb 24, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  19. Feb 23, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  20. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  21. Feb 23, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  22. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ substituted
  23. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ uncircled
  24. Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0372S05
  25. Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0372S05
  26. Feb 23, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0372S03
  27. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ circled
  28. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ substituted
  29. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ uncircled
  30. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ circled
  31. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  32. Feb 19, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0372S04
  33. Feb 19, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0372S04
  34. Feb 19, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0372S03
  35. Feb 19, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0372S03
  36. Feb 16, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0372S02
  37. Feb 12, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  38. Feb 12, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  39. Feb 11, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  40. Feb 11, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  41. Feb 11, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0372S02
  42. Feb 11, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0372S02
  43. Feb 10, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0372S01
  44. Feb 10, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0372S01
  45. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  46. Jan 28, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  47. Jan 28, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0372
  48. Jan 28, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0372
  49. Jan 26, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  50. Jan 26, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  51. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0372
  52. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0372
  53. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  54. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Karianne LisonbeeHouse · District 14RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Wayne HarperSenate · District 16RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Creation of Dedicated Oversight for Guardian ad Litem Program

The establishment of the Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee under the Judicial Council introduces formalized multi-agency supervision and random case sampling for the state's child representation program.

Guardian ad Litem Oversight CommitteeJudicial CouncilOffice of Guardian ad Litem

Connected Entities

Judicial Council, Health and Human Services Interim Committee, Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee and 5 more
OrganizationJudicial Council“Body responsible for developing uniform administrative policy for the courts and”Map →
OrganizationHealth and Human Services Interim Committee“Legislative committee receiving fatality review reports and executive summaries”Map →
OrganizationGuardian ad Litem Oversight Committee“Newly established committee supervised by the Judicial Council to oversee the st”Map →
PersonKarianne Lisonbee“Chief Sponsor of HB 372”Map →
OrganizationDivision of Child and Family Services“State division involved in child welfare, protective custody, and family service”Map →
OrganizationOffice of Guardian ad Litem“State office responsible for providing attorney guardians ad litem for minors”Map →
OrganizationChild Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel“Legislative panel reviewing child welfare reports and guardian ad litem program ”Map →
PersonWayne A. Harper“Senate Sponsor of HB 372”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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