Senate approves shorter pathway to permanency for some non‑relative caregivers

The Senate passed House Bill 16‑92 (conforming measure) designed to speed permanency for children already placed in a stable home. The bill narrows a bottleneck in non‑relative adoption cases by permitting a judge to waive certain requirements when caregivers have lived with the child for at least 12 consecutive months and custody has been granted through a final court order after full adjudication.

Sponsor Speaker Hale said the measure is intended to shorten time to a permanent home without reducing safeguards: the bill preserves judicial discretion and includes criminal‑history and sex‑offender registry checks for prospective adoptive caregivers. "The goal is that children have a stable home as soon as reasonably and safely possible," Speaker Hale said.

Sen. Oliver pressed for clarity on whether a home study had been completed and how the child's preferences or changes in the child's situation would be considered; the sponsor and other supporters said the measure applies only when the child is already placed, parental rights have been terminated, and judges retain discretion to protect the child's best interest.

The clerk recorded the vote as Ayes 24, Nays 3 and the bill was declared passed. Sponsors framed the change as reducing unnecessary delay that can harm children, while emphasizing existing safeguards including court oversight and CASA involvement.

Next steps: The bill will proceed through enrollment and be available for judicial and child‑welfare administrators to apply where its conditions are met.