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Read. Follow. Verify.Utah expands Child Welfare Parental Representation Program duties and budget preparation
Last action · March 23, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Wayne Harper and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
Utah broadens the responsibilities of the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program to include educational support for all parental representation attorneys, grant-based funding support for indigent parental defense, and administration of the Interdisciplinary Parental Representation Program, effective May 6, 2026.
The measure alters how parental defense services and educational programs are organized and funded across the state's child welfare system, impacting participating attorneys and indigent parents.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
parental representation attorneys
Attorneys representing parents in child welfare cases are eligible for expanded educational and training programs provided by the office.
indigent parents in child welfare proceedings
Indigent defense services receive potential support through grant processes enabled by the legislation.
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 new responsibilities are given to the Child Welfare Parental Representation Program?
When does this legislation take effect?
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
36 actions- Mar 23, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Feb 25, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Feb 22, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 30 earlier actions
- Feb 22, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Feb 19, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Feb 19, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Feb 19, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 19, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Feb 18, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Feb 18, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Feb 17, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Feb 9, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 9, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Feb 9, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Feb 9, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 3rd reading
- Feb 9, 2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent Calendar
- Feb 3, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
- Feb 3, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Jan 28, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Jan 27, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Jan 27, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0185
- Jan 27, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0185
- Jan 23, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Jan 23, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Jan 22, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0185
- Jan 22, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0185
- Jan 22, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 22, 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
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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