Senate committee sends post-adoption contact agreement bill to print

The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on Wednesday voted to send RS 32268 to print. The measure would authorize courts to approve voluntary post-adoption contact agreements that are signed by the parties and filed when an adoption is finalized.

Supporters said the bill does not create a condition for an adoption or require contact; it only creates a statutory path to make an agreement enforceable if both the adoptive parents and the birth parent choose to enter one. "This is a voluntary agreement. It is not required for an adoption to happen," said Senator Julie Van Norden, who presented the request for study.

Senator Van Norden told the committee the agreements typically address contact such as photos or letters on birthdays and holidays; she said the bill would allow such agreements to be approved by the court and modified by mutual consent. She also emphasized a statutory limitation: a claimed violation of a post-adoption contact agreement would not be grounds to set aside an adoption or to obtain monetary damages.

Committee members had no substantive questions at the print stage. Senator Ricks moved to send RS 32268 to print; Senator Shippey seconded. The committee voice vote was recorded as "aye" and the motion carried.

RS 32268 will be printed for further consideration in a later hearing.