The Senate Committee on Family and Children Services heard SB 171 on family and children matters authored by Sen. Tyler Johnson. The bill:
- 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).
- Requires the Department of Child Services (DCS) 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 relative who a child has resided with for at least 12 months is presumed to be an individual who has a significant relationship with the child.
- Requires a court to write formal opinions in certain circumstances and include specific information in its opinions.
- Provides that the department may not request a change of placement in certain circumstances.
- Requires the office of judicial administration (OJA) to create a filter on the child welfare court performance measures interactive dashboard to allow a user to filter child welfare performance measures by judicial officer.
The Committee amended the bill by consent to remove the requirement for OJA to create a filter on the child welfare court performance measures dashboard to allow a user to filter by judicial officer. Strength Over Struggle Inc., Champions for Children Indiana, the Indiana Public Defender Council, and a member of the public testified in support of the bill. The amended bill passed 8-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/171/