Indiana Senate Bill 171
Session 2026
Family and children matters.
Became Law
Became Law on Mar 5, 2026
Sponsors
First Action
Jan 5, 2026
Latest Action
Mar 5, 2026
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
171
State
Indiana
Session
2026
Motion Text
SB 171 - Johnson T
Senate Roll Call Votes
Didn't Vote
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Jackson, L
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Excused
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Summary
Requires the local office of the department of child services to provide notice of an adoption petition to the court in which a CHINS proceeding is open or pending. Provides that the consent to adoption may be executed or acknowledged at any time after the birth of the child in the presence of an attorney, in person, or by video conferencing.
Provides that a court may grant postadoption contact privileges if the child is at least 12 months of age. (Current law requires the child to be at least two years of age.) Provides certain exceptions to confidentiality requirements. Requires the department of child services (department) to consider certain factors when evaluating an out-of-home placement for a child in a child in need of services (CHINS) case. Provides that a placement with whom a child has resided with for at least 12 months, consecutively or nonconsecutively, is presumed to be an individual who has a significant relationship with the child. Requires a court to write a formal order in certain circumstances and include specific information in the order. Provides that the objectives of the dispositional decree are not considered met solely because a court is prohibited from changing a child's placement under IC 31-34-23-6(g) and prohibits the court from considering certain information when deciding whether the objectives of the dispositional decree are met. Requires any party seeking a change in placement for certain children to file a motion with the court, provide notice to all persons affected, and inform all persons affected of the right to file a written objection within 15 days. (Current law only allows the department to file the motion for a change of placement.) Allows a court to rule on a party's motion for the change in placement without delay if exigent circumstances are alleged in the party's motion. Provides that, with certain exceptions, if a child is the subject of an adoption petition, the adoption petitioner is the child's current placement, and the adoption petitioner has been the child's placement for at least 12 months, the court shall not change the child's placement until the adoption petition has been ruled on. Provides that if the party seeking a change of placement is a parent, guardian ad litem, or a court appointed special advocate, the party must provide notice to the department of child services, and the department shall then provide notice of the motion to the child's out-of-home placement.
Enrolled Senate Bill (S)
Senate Bill (S)
Engrossed Senate Bill (H)
Introduced Senate Bill (S)
Fiscal Note: SB0171.05.ENRH.FN001
Sort by most recent
03/05/2026
Senate
Public Law 116
03/05/2026
Office of the Governor
Signed by the Governor
02/27/2026
Senate
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
02/27/2026
Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
02/27/2026
House
Signed by the Speaker
02/25/2026
Senate
Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 279: yeas 46, nays 0
02/23/2026
Senate
Motion to concur filed
02/20/2026
House
Returned to the Senate with amendments
02/19/2026
House
Representative Morris added as cosponsor
02/19/2026
House
Representative Goss-Reaves added as cosponsor
02/19/2026
House
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 290: yeas 94, nays 0
02/18/2026
House
Second reading: ordered engrossed
02/16/2026
House
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
01/28/2026
House
First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary
01/23/2026
Senate
Referred to the House
01/22/2026
Senate
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 54: yeas 43, nays 0
01/22/2026
Senate
House sponsor: Representative McGuire
01/20/2026
Senate
Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
01/20/2026
Senate
Amendment #1 (Johnson T) prevailed; voice vote
01/20/2026
Senate
Senator Randolph added as coauthor
01/13/2026
Senate
Senator Brown L added as third author
01/13/2026
Senate
Senator Walker G added as second author
01/13/2026
Senate
Senators Ford J.D., Donato added as coauthors
01/12/2026
Senate
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
01/05/2026
Senate
First reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children Services
01/05/2026
Senate
Authored by Senator Johnson T
Sources
IN Legislature
Open States
Record Created
Jan 2, 2026 4:34:50 PM
Record Updated
Mar 9, 2026 5:07:44 PM