SB 599 Arkansas Senate · 2025 Regular Session

TO ELIMINATE INTERLOCUTORY DECREES OF ADOPTION; AND TO AMEND THE REVISED UNIFORM ADOPTION ACT.

Senate Bill 599, now Act 744, aims to eliminate interlocutory decrees of adoption and amend the Revised Uniform Adoption Act in Arkansas. This bill directly affects individuals and families involved in the adoption process by changing the legal procedures. While the bill's intent is to streamline the adoption framework, the provided text does not detail the specific mechanisms or provisions for how these changes are implemented within the act.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Apr 1, 2025 Signed Apr 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Act 744 → SB 599 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the definition of child residency for adoption purposes in Arkansas, clarifying when a child qualifies as a state resident based on age and specific circumstances. The changes affect which families can adopt children born in Arkansas or near the state border, particularly for children under six months old.

Scope change

The bill modifies eligibility criteria for adoption by clarifying residency requirements for children under and over six months old, and for prospective adoptive parents.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated residency requirements for children under six months old to include cases where the birth mother lived in Arkansas for more than four months before birth, the child was born in Arkansas or a border city, and the child remains in Arkansas until the adoption decree is entered.

Modified residency requirements for children over six months old to require six months of residence in Arkansas, current Arkansas residence, and presence in the state when the adoption petition is filed and heard.

Clarified adoptive parent residency requirements to include occupying a dwelling in Arkansas, intent to remain in the state, and demonstrating genuine intent through ongoing physical presence beyond transitory activities.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 18, 2025

Signed into law

Notification that SB599 is now Act 744

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned from the House as passed.

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned to the Senate as passed.

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Returned by the Committee Do Pass

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read the third time and passed.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors