LB 70 Legislature · 109th Legislature (2025-2026)

Provide for adoption by a second adult person and change provisions relating to adoptions

This bill allows a minor child with one legal parent to be adopted by a second adult person, provided the sole parent consents, the child has a parent-child relationship with the second adult, and a home study is completed. It also clarifies that adult children may be adopted by a second adult under specific conditions, such as having a six-month parent-child relationship and meeting criteria like the absence of living parents or parental rights termination. The bill updates adoption procedures by redefining terms like "sole legal parent," adjusting consent requirements, and prohibiting adoptions that would result in a child having more than two legal parents. These changes streamline adoption pathways while maintaining existing safeguards for children and birth parents.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Legislature Passage

Feb 2026

Legislature Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Signed Mar 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrollment and Review ER118 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended during the Enrollment and Review process to update the list of statutes it amends. The original version targeted specific sections in the Revised Statutes of Nebraska and the Cumulative Supplement, while the amended version adds a new section (43-1401) to the Revised Statutes Supplement for 2025 and removes some sections from the list. These changes clarify which laws the bill modifies without altering the core policy content.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on adoption law, but the specific statutes referenced were updated to include a new 2025 supplement and remove outdated references.

TECHNICAL

Added section 43-1401 from the Revised Statutes Supplement 2025 to the list of amended statutes.

Removed section 43-104.15 from the list of amended statutes in the bill's introductory section.

Adjusted the formatting and organization of the bill's title page and introductory text during the enrollment process.

Floor votes · Legislature Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

32–0

Passed · 17 other

Total votes 49

Feb 4, 2026

N Nonpartisan49

32 Yea 17

65% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor on March 3, 2026

executive

Feb 27, 2026

Legislature · Passed

President/Speaker signed

legislature

Feb 27, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Passed on Final Reading 47-1*-1

legislature

Feb 19, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Enrollment and Review ER118 adopted

legislature

Feb 4, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Judiciary AM1660 adopted

legislature

Jan 29, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Placed on General File with AM1660

legislature

Jan 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary Committee

legislature

Jan 9, 2025

Introduced

Date of introduction

legislature

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors