including qualifying convictions from other states as grounds for termination of parental rights petitions.

SB 278 allows child welfare courts to consider certain criminal convictions from other states as grounds for terminating parental rights. It directly affects parents with qualifying convictions in states outside the current jurisdiction and the courts handling parental rights petitions. The bill expands the definition of "qualifying convictions" to include those from other states, requiring courts to evaluate these when determining if parental rights should be terminated. The law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, takes effect January 1, 2026.