Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H2/4/25 H2/13/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1292
4
5 By: Representative Bentley
6 By: Senator K. Hammer
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
10 ADOPTION OF A MINOR; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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12
13 Subtitle
14 TO AMEND THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR
15 THE ADOPTION OF A MINOR.
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17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
18
19 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 9-9-213 is amended to read as follows:
20 9-9-213. Required residence of minor.
21 (a)(1) A In an adoption where the child is not in the custody of the
22 Department of Human Services, a final decree of adoption shall not be issued
23 and an interlocutory decree of adoption does not become final until the minor
24 to be adopted, other than a stepchild of the petitioner, has lived in the
25 home for at least six (6) months after:
26 (A) placement Placement by an a child placement agency
27 licensed under the Child Welfare Agency Licensing Act, � 9-28-401 et seq.; or
28 (B) for at least six (6) months after the The petition for
29 adoption is filed.
30 (2) This subsection does not apply if the minor to be adopted
31 is:
32 (A) The stepchild of the petitioner; or
33 (B) Less than six (6) months of age at the time the
34 petition was filed.
35 (b) In an adoption where the child is in the custody of the
36 department, a final decree of adoption shall not be issued and an
*LJH058* 02-13-2025 10:34:48 LJH058
As Engrossed: H2/4/25 H2/13/25 HB1292
1 interlocutory decree of adoption does not become final until the minor to be
2 adopted has lived in the home for at least six (6) months unless:
3 (1) Residence in the home is not required for a The minor to be
4 adopted if the minor is in the custody of the Department of Human Services,
5 and the minor must reside outside of the home to receive medically necessary
6 health care;
7 (2) The minor to be adopted is less than six (6) months of age;
8 or
9 (3) The Director of the Division of Children and Family Services
10 waives the residency requirement for a minor to be adopted when the minor is
11 sixteen (16) years of age or older and is participating in a life skills,
12 technical, or vocational program.
13 (c) This section does not apply to a minor who is:
14 (1) Less than six (6) months of age at the time the petition for
15 adoption is filed; and
16 (2) Not in the custody of the Department of Human Services.
17
18 /s/Bentley
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2 02-13-2025 10:34:48 LJH058Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.