AR HB1292

Amends Arkansas Code § 9-9-213 to distinguish residency requirements based on whether a child is in Department of Human Services (DHS) custody versus private adoption

Requires minors not in DHS custody to live in the adoptive home for at least 6 months after placement by a licensed agency or after the adoption petition is filed before a final decree can be issued

Exempts stepchildren and infants under 6 months of age from the residency requirement in non-DHS adoptions

Allows exceptions for children in DHS custody when the minor must reside outside the home for medically necessary health care, is under 6 months old, or when the Director of Children and Family Services waives the requirement for minors 16 or older in life skills, technical, or vocational programs

Approved on February 25, 2025, as Act 139 of the Regular Session