Committee backs bill to restore simultaneous adoptions for child-welfare cases after 2020 Idaho Supreme Court ruling

The Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee voted to send Senate Bill 10-21 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after a brief presentation by Jared Larson of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The bill would permit “simultaneous adoptions” in certain child-welfare cases — allowing termination of parental rights and adoption to proceed at the same hearing when parents agree — restoring a practice limited by a 2020 Idaho Supreme Court interpretation.

Jared Larson, legislative and regulatory affairs chief at the Department of Health and Welfare, told the committee the department’s leadership set a goal of improving child-welfare outcomes and shortening the time to permanency — the period between a child’s removal from a home and reunification or adoption. “We average a little over 21 months until we get to permanency,” Larson said. By contrast, he said, statutory procedures set a minimum timeline around 15 months and the national average is about 16 months.

Larson described the amendment to Idaho Code (chapter 16, section 2005, subsection 5 as referenced) as narrow and impacting a relatively small number of youth, but potentially speeding placements when a parent agrees to relinquish parental rights and adoption can proceed immediately. “We’re looking at everything we can do to get to permanency quicker,” he said.

Committee members expressed bipartisan support for reducing permanency timelines while preserving parental rights. Senator Wintrow, who seconded the recommendation to pass the bill to the floor, said the measure balances parental rights with the need for predictable timelines for children and adoptive families.

No public testimony was recorded. The committee moved the bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation.