UT HB0576

Administrative Office of the Courts must provide annual reports by October 1 to the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel on compliance with statutory timelines for shelter hearings, adjudication hearings, dispositional hearings, permanency hearings, and termination petitions, organized by judicial district

Parties may not stipulate to waive or extend statutory timelines in child welfare cases, except for up to 4 calendar days in emergencies; juvenile courts must schedule trials well in advance of deadlines and utilize senior judges to cover nonsubstantive hearings

Final extension of reunification services reduced from 90 days to 60 days, and courts must find that the extension will not impede ability to meet subsequent deadlines including the 18-month deadline for decisions on termination petitions

Appellate courts required to prioritize child welfare appeals and implement procedures for timely resolution; annual reporting must include average and longest appeal times, percentage of decisions upheld versus overturned, and efforts to expedite decisions

Adds "permanency" as a defined term meaning a permanent, safe, and stable living environment for a minor; bill takes effect May 6, 2026