AlaskaAdopted people would keep legal ties to their siblings
Adopted people would keep legal ties to their siblings, and courts would assess sibling visits for children in state custody.
What it does
Adopted people would keep their legal ties to siblings. This would include people raised together as siblings, even without a relationship through blood, adoption, or marriage.
For children in state custody who have siblings, courts would decide whether visits after adoption serve the child's best interests. The finding would not guarantee visits.
Argument forKeeping siblings legally related after adoption could help preserve family ties, including for children raised together without a blood relationship.
Argument againstRequired reviews of sibling visits could add another issue for courts and families to resolve before an adoption is finalized.
More detail
Adoption would leave the adopted person's legal relationships with siblings intact. This rule would cover adoption orders from Alaska or another state when an Alaska court handles the affected legal matters. Siblings would include people who share a parent through blood, adoption, or marriage. It would also include people raised together as siblings in the same household. The provision would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.
Courts would decide whether sibling visits after adoption serve the child's best interests and record the finding in the final adoption order. The requirement would cover children committed to the custody of Alaska's Department of Family and Community Services who have siblings. Siblings would include people who share a parent through blood, adoption, or marriage and people raised together as siblings in one household. The required finding would not itself guarantee visits. The requirement would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 8(H) Minutes (HJUD)Latest
- May 8(H) Heard & Held
- May 8(H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
- Apr 15(H) Minutes (HJUD)
- Apr 15(H) Heard & Held
- Apr 15(H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
- Apr 13(H) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Apr 13(H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
- Apr 8(H) REFERRED TO JUDICIARYMinor
- Apr 8(H) FN3: ZERO(AJS)
- Apr 8(H) FN2: INDETERMINATE(DFC)
- Apr 8(H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(DFC)
- Apr 8(H) AM: SCHWANKE, MINA
- Apr 8(H) NR: PRAX, FIELDS
- Apr 8(H) DP: GRAY, MEARS
- Apr 8(H) HSS RPT 2DP 2NR 2AM
- Apr 7(H) Minutes (HHSS)
- Apr 7(H) Moved HB 157 Out of Committee -- Delayed to 3:40 PM --
- Apr 7(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
- Apr 2(H) Heard & Held
- Apr 2(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
- Mar 31(H) Heard & Held
- Mar 31(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
- Mar 2(H) COSPONSOR(S): COSTELLO
- Feb 27(H) COSPONSOR(S): FRIER
- 2025
- Mar 26(H) HSS, JUD
- Mar 26(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced