Utah House Keeps One‑Year Wait for Some Stepparent Adoptions; Senate Bill 14 Passes

Lawmakers debated a targeted change to adoption procedure language as part of Senate Bill 14 on Jan. 31, with members weighing whether to shorten a waiting period for certain step‑parent adoptions.

Representative Holt proposed an amendment to change the statute’s existing one‑year waiting period to six months for a final decree of adoption in some circumstances. Proponents of the amendment said the shorter period would help families consolidate bonds and stabilize the home sooner. Opponents, including Representative Smedley and others with adoption practice experience, said a one‑year period offers prudence: it gives time to ensure a marriage is stable and that a step‑parent does not assume long‑term obligations prematurely if the marriage later fails.

After hearing debate from members and attorneys with practice experience, the House voted down the amendment and approved Senate Bill 14 in its technical, clarification role. Voting closed with the bill passing the House; the record shows the measure received 64 affirmative votes and no negatives in the House vote noted in the transcript.

Members described the measure as part of a package of technical corrections and said it addressed several drafting issues in the adoption recodification. The bill moves forward for final processing following the House vote.