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House adopts amendment to parental-rights reinstatement bill; sends amended measure forward
Summary
House Bill 133, concerning a pathway to reinstatement of parental rights in limited circumstances, was amended on the floor to add procedural guardrails, timeline changes, petition limitations, and representation protections; the floor amendment passed unanimously and the bill will be reprinted as amended.
House Bill 133 was the subject of extended floor discussion on June 17. Representative Delozier offered amendment A03699 to establish who may petition the court to seek reinstatement of parental rights, adjust timelines (setting a 15-month minimum in some cases), require specific petition contents, address legal representation for those who cannot afford counsel, and create prehearing conferences and strict timelines.
Supporters argued the amendment balances child safety with a limited path to reunification and reflects stakeholder input from child-welfare advocates, county agencies, and legal experts. Several members praised the bipartisan effort; Representative Korjewski described the amendment as 'agreed to' after collaborative drafting. The amendment passed on a recorded vote (ayes 202, nays 0) and the bill as amended will be reprinted for the next legislative steps.
Floor discussion repeatedly emphasized protecting children first while allowing narrowly defined, procedurally robust opportunities for reunification in appropriate cases. The House will transmit the reprinted, amended bill through the regular legislative process.
