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Committee adopts amendment to adoption-reform bill, then pulls it for further review
Summary
A heavily amended House Bill 1488 — aimed at tightening adoption practices, increasing accounting and counseling, and combating unlicensed agents and alleged trafficking — had its amendment adopted but was pulled for further committee consideration Monday due to concerns from adoption attorneys and committee members.
House Bill 1488, presented by Representative Penzo and amended in committee, aims to tighten adoption law to prevent unlicensed agents from brokering adoptions and to require clearer accounting and counseling to protect biological parents. Proponents cited concerns in immigrant and low‑income communities and described cases they likened to trafficking.
Representative Penzo and Rep. Ballinger said the amended language increases transparency and accountability, requires additional counseling, and would close gaps that permit exploitative practices. Jeff Williams and Representative Ballinger emphasized the bill had been vetted for months and amended multiple times with stakeholders.
The Arkansas Bar Association’s legislation committee and adoption attorneys warned the bill as amended could make legitimate adoptions harder and clog courts; the Bar’s witness said the measure imposes broad filing and accounting requirements and urged more work to avoid unintended consequences.
Given the late hour and concerns raised, the sponsor agreed to pull the bill for additional review and to set it for further committee consideration Monday upon adjournment. The amendment as offered on the floor of the committee was adopted before the bill was deferred for additional review.
