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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah Governor Signs Family Law Bill Regulating Child Custody Evaluations, Coercive Control Evidence, and Mental Health Treatment
Last action · March 23, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Paul Cutler and 2 others
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What This Bill Does
Utah enacts HB 303, updating family law proceedings to allow courts to consider evidence of in child custody decisions, establishing qualification standards and a state roster for child custody evaluators, and setting specific procedures for court-ordered mental health treatment. The measure takes effect on May 6, 2026, with certain provisions taking effect upon the governor's approval.
Parents involved in Utah child custody or divorce disputes face new legal standards regarding how courts evaluate domestic safety, mental health professionals, and evidence of . The legislation establishes strict licensing and training mandates for individuals performing s and limits certain court-ordered s.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Parents in Utah Child Custody Proceedings
Litigating parents are subject to new evaluation standards, explicit consideration of coercive control, and modified rules regarding attorney fees, expert evidence, and mental health treatment.
Custody Evaluators and Mental Health Professionals
Mental health professionals conducting child custody evaluations must meet mandatory licensing and 18-hour training requirements and register with the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Minor Children
Children subject to custody and parent-time orders are affected by new standards prioritizing safety, psychological evaluation requirements, and restrictions on certain reunification treatments.
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
Can a court consider coercive control in a child custody dispute under this law?
What qualifications must a custody evaluator have?
Are a custody evaluator's recommendations binding on the court?
Does the law discriminate against parents who use medical cannabis?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
58 actions- Mar 23, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 12, 2026HouseHouse/ to Governor
- Mar 12, 2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 11, 2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11, 2026Clerk of the HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 52 earlier actions
- Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from House for Enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 5, 2026SenateSenate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 5, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 5, 2026SenateSenate/ substituted
- Mar 5, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 5, 2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0303S03
- Mar 4, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
- Mar 4, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0303S03
- Mar 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0303S03
- Mar 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0303S03
- Feb 26, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0303S02
- Feb 26, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0303S02
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 25, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0303S02
- Feb 25, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0303S02
- Feb 23, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 20, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 19, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 19, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 12, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0303S01
- Feb 12, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0303S01
- Feb 12, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 12, 2026HouseHouse/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Feb 11, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 11, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 11, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0303S01
- Feb 11, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0303S01
- Feb 9, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Jan 27, 2026HouseHouse/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 26, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0303
- Jan 26, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0303
- Jan 21, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 21, 2026HouseHouse/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0303
- Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0303
- Jan 21, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 21, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselBill 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Formalization of Custody Evaluator Roster
The legislation shifts custody evaluation oversight by requiring the Administrative Office of the Courts to maintain a formal public roster with strict licensing and training prerequisites.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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