IndianaSB 171Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)Senate

Family and children matters.

Sponsored By: Tyler Johnson (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Requires the local office of the department of child services to provide notice of an adoption petition to the court in which a CHINS proceeding is open or pending. Provides that the consent to adoption may be executed or acknowledged at any time after the birth of the child in the presence of an attorney, in person, or by video conferencing. Provides that a court may grant postadoption contact privileges if the child is at least 12 months of age. (Current law requires the child to be at least two years of age.) Provides certain exceptions to confidentiality requirements. Requires the department of child services (department) to consider certain factors when evaluating an out-of-home placement for a child in a child in need of services (CHINS) case. Provides that a placement with whom a child has resided with for at least 12 months, consecutively or nonconsecutively, is presumed to be an individual who has a significant relationship with the child. Requires a court to write a formal order in certain circumstances and include specific information in the order. Provides that the objectives of the dispositional decree are not considered met solely because a court is prohibited from changing a child's placement under IC 31-34-23-6(g) and prohibits the court from considering certain information when deciding whether the objectives of the dispositional decree are met. Requires any party seeking a change in placement for certain children to file a motion with the court, provide notice to all persons affected, and inform all persons affected of the right to file a written objection within 15 days. (Current law only allows the department to file the motion for a change of placement.) Allows a court to rule on a party's motion for the change in placement without delay if exigent circumstances are alleged in the party's motion. Provides that, with certain exceptions, if a child is the subject of an adoption petition, the adoption petitioner is the child's current placement, and the adoption petitioner has been the child's placement for at least 12 months, the court shall not change the child's placement until the adoption petition has been ruled on. Provides that if the party seeking a change of placement is a parent, guardian ad litem, or a court appointed special advocate, the party must provide notice to the department of child services, and the department shall then provide notice of the motion to the child's out-of-home placement.

family and children servicesthe housejudiciary

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tyler Johnson

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Greg Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • J.D. Ford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie McGuire

    Republican • House

  • Liz Brown

    Republican • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Goss-Reaves

    Republican • House

  • Robert Morris

    Republican • House

  • Stacey Donato

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 183 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/25/2026

Senate concurred with House amendments

Yes: 46 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 94 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/22/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 43 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    3/5/2026Senate
  2. Public Law 116

    3/5/2026Senate
  3. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/27/2026Senate
  4. Signed by the Speaker

    2/27/2026House
  5. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/27/2026Senate
  6. Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 279: yeas 46, nays 0

    2/25/2026Senate
  7. Motion to concur filed

    2/23/2026Senate
  8. Returned to the Senate with amendments

    2/20/2026House
  9. Representative Morris added as cosponsor

    2/19/2026House
  10. Representative Goss-Reaves added as cosponsor

    2/19/2026House
  11. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 290: yeas 94, nays 0

    2/19/2026House
  12. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/18/2026House
  13. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/16/2026House
  14. First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

    1/28/2026House
  15. Referred to the House

    1/23/2026Senate
  16. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 54: yeas 43, nays 0

    1/22/2026Senate
  17. House sponsor: Representative McGuire

    1/22/2026Senate
  18. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    1/20/2026Senate
  19. Amendment #1 (Johnson T) prevailed; voice vote

    1/20/2026Senate
  20. Senator Randolph added as coauthor

    1/20/2026Senate
  21. Senator Brown L added as third author

    1/13/2026Senate
  22. Senator Walker G added as second author

    1/13/2026Senate
  23. Senators Ford J.D., Donato added as coauthors

    1/13/2026Senate
  24. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/12/2026Senate
  25. Authored by Senator Johnson T

    1/5/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (H)

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (S)

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