Indiana SB 171 — Family and children matters.

Indiana, 2026. SB 171: Family and children matters.

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

March 5, 2026 — Signed by the 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.

Sponsors

• Tyler Johnson — primary sponsor
• Greg Walker — primary sponsor
• Liz Brown — primary sponsor
• J.D. Ford
• Stacey Donato
• Lonnie Randolph
• Julie McGuire — primary sponsor
• Lori Goss-Reaves
• Robert Morris

Bill text

Enrolled Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗ Read version ↗

Engrossed Senate Bill (H) Read version ↗

Introduced Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. March 5, 2026Signed by the Governor
2. February 27, 2026Signed by the President Pro Tempore
3. March 5, 2026Public Law 116
4. February 27, 2026Signed by the Speaker
5. February 27, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
6. February 25, 2026Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 279: yeas 46, nays 0
7. February 23, 2026Motion to concur filed
8. February 20, 2026Returned to the Senate with amendments
9. February 19, 2026Representative Morris added as cosponsor
10. February 19, 2026Representative Goss-Reaves added as cosponsor
11. February 19, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 290: yeas 94, nays 0
12. February 18, 2026Second reading: ordered engrossed
13. February 16, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
14. January 28, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary
15. January 23, 2026Referred to the House
16. January 22, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 54: yeas 43, nays 0
17. January 22, 2026House sponsor: Representative McGuire
18. January 20, 2026Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
19. January 20, 2026Amendment #1 (Johnson T) prevailed; voice vote
20. January 20, 2026Senator Randolph added as coauthor
21. January 13, 2026Senator Brown L added as third author
22. January 13, 2026Senator Walker G added as second author
23. January 13, 2026Senators Ford J.D., Donato added as coauthors
24. January 12, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
25. January 5, 2026Authored by Senator Johnson T
26. January 5, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children Services

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