TO AMEND THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADOPTION OF A MINOR.

HB 1292 amends residency requirements for adopting minors by changing the rule for infants under six months old. Specifically, it removes the prior requirement that adoptive parents must have resided in the state for a certain period before filing an adoption petition, replacing it with a new provision stating the child must be "less than six (6) months of age at the time the petition was filed." This change directly affects adoptive parents seeking to adopt infants under six months, streamlining the process for this age group. The bill became law as Act 139 on February 25, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.