An act relating to termination of parental rights in an adoption proceeding

This bill amends Vermont law to require courts in adoption proceedings to explicitly consider whether a parent has made reasonable and consistent child support payments when determining if terminating parental rights is in the child's best interests. It directly affects parents involved in adoption cases where parental rights may be terminated, specifically adding child support payments as a required factor alongside other considerations like communication and custody. The key provision updates Section 3-504 of Vermont's adoption statute to mandate courts evaluate a parent's financial support obligations as part of their "reasonable and consistent" efforts. This change clarifies that failure to pay child support (when legally obligated) must be weighed in termination decisions. The bill does not alter the standard for termination but specifies a new factor courts must address.