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    SB-450
    Social Services

    Adoption: state court jurisdiction.

    Introduced
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Expands California courts' authority to oversee adoptions of minors born in the state.
    • Allows state courts to handle adoptions when no legal proceedings are needed to make a child adoptable.
    • Maintains compliance with existing interstate adoption agreements and protocols.

    Summary

    Senator Menjivar's adoption jurisdiction bill expands California courts' authority to oversee adoption proceedings for minors born in the state. The legislation modifies the Family Code to allow state courts to handle adoptions in two additional scenarios: when no legal proceedings are needed to make the minor available for adoption, and when such proceedings are initiated within California.

    The measure maintains existing jurisdictional requirements, which permit California courts to oversee adoptions when the minor has lived in-state with a parent, guardian, or prospective adoptive parent for at least six consecutive months, or when the adoption agency is located in California and the parties have substantial connections to the state. The bill preserves current provisions regarding emergency jurisdiction in cases of child abandonment or abuse, and clarifies that these changes do not affect jurisdiction under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

    For cases involving custody proceedings in other states or tribal courts, the legislation retains requirements that California courts must meet specific conditions before exercising adoption jurisdiction. These include verification that the other state's court lacks jurisdiction or has declined to exercise it, and confirmation that California courts have proper jurisdiction under the amended criteria.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    Senate Floor
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 8 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Caroline Menjivar
    Caroline MenjivarD
    California State Senator
    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/18/2025)

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    May 23, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    5117PASS

    Key Takeaways

    • Expands California courts' authority to oversee adoptions of minors born in the state.
    • Allows state courts to handle adoptions when no legal proceedings are needed to make a child adoptable.
    • Maintains compliance with existing interstate adoption agreements and protocols.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Caroline Menjivar
    Caroline MenjivarD
    California State Senator

    Summary

    Senator Menjivar's adoption jurisdiction bill expands California courts' authority to oversee adoption proceedings for minors born in the state. The legislation modifies the Family Code to allow state courts to handle adoptions in two additional scenarios: when no legal proceedings are needed to make the minor available for adoption, and when such proceedings are initiated within California.

    The measure maintains existing jurisdictional requirements, which permit California courts to oversee adoptions when the minor has lived in-state with a parent, guardian, or prospective adoptive parent for at least six consecutive months, or when the adoption agency is located in California and the parties have substantial connections to the state. The bill preserves current provisions regarding emergency jurisdiction in cases of child abandonment or abuse, and clarifies that these changes do not affect jurisdiction under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

    For cases involving custody proceedings in other states or tribal courts, the legislation retains requirements that California courts must meet specific conditions before exercising adoption jurisdiction. These include verification that the other state's court lacks jurisdiction or has declined to exercise it, and confirmation that California courts have proper jurisdiction under the amended criteria.

    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/18/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Next Step
    Senate Committee
    Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Committee
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Senate Judiciary Hearing
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    Senate Floor
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View History
    May 23, 2025
    PASS
    Senate Committee
    Senate Appropriations Hearing
    AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
    5117PASS

    Contacts

    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 8 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 2
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Anna CaballeroD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Tim GraysonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Megan DahleR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kelly SeyartoR
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Caroline MenjivarD
    Senator
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Aisha WahabD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Christopher CabaldonD
    Senator
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Laura RichardsonD
    Senator
    Committee Member