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

This bill amends Vermont law to require courts in adoption termination cases to consider whether a parent made "reasonable and consistent payments" for their child's support when deciding if termination is in the child's best interests. It directly affects parents whose parental rights are being challenged during adoption proceedings, particularly those who failed to provide financial support. The key change adds financial responsibility as a specific factor courts must weigh alongside other considerations like visitation and custody willingness. This policy update clarifies that courts must evaluate payment history (based on the parent's financial ability) when determining if parental rights should be terminated.