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Debate in Judiciary Committee over LB 70: second‑parent adoption proposed to legally recognize caregiving relationships
Summary
LB 70 would allow a second person who has an existing parent‑child relationship with a child to adopt when the child has only one legal parent; sponsors and LGBTQ and child‑welfare advocates said the change would provide legal stability, while the Nebraska Catholic Conference warned of unintended consequences if relationships later break down
Senator Wendy DeBoer reintroduced legislation, LB 70, to create a statutory path for what the bill calls “second parent adoption,” allowing a second adult who already has a parent–child relationship with a child to adopt when the child has only one legal parent.
DeBoer told the Judiciary Committee the measure would not increase the number of legal parents — Nebraska law remains limited to two legal parents — but would allow courts to formalize a second parental relationship in cases where an adult has already acted as a caregiver. “LB 70 recognizes that life is messy,” DeBoer said. “This bill is about permanency and stability in a child’s life.”
Suppor…
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