HB 133 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in proceedings prior to petition to adopt, further providing for relinquishment to adult intending to adopt child, for alternative procedure for relinquishment and for petition for involuntary termination; and providing for reinstatement of parental rights.

HB 133 amends Pennsylvania's adoption laws to change how birth parents can legally give up parental rights before an adoption petition is filed. It creates an alternative process for relinquishment to adoptive adults and clarifies procedures for terminating parental rights involuntarily. The bill also adds a specific mechanism for parents to seek reinstatement of their rights after relinquishment. This directly affects birth parents, prospective adoptive parents, and children involved in adoption proceedings under Pennsylvania law.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Sep 22, 2025 Last action Jun 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN3480 → Printer's No. PN3644 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill update expands the ability to reinstate parental rights by extending the waiting period from one year to 15 months and adding new grounds for eligibility, such as when a child is in agency custody or reunification with an adoptive parent is not imminent. It also strengthens protections for adoptive parents by requiring the court to appoint counsel if they cannot afford it and clarifies that consents to reinstatement are irrevocable only after a 30-day window. Additionally, the bill now allows petitions to be filed in the county where the child formerly resided with court permission, broadening venue options.

Scope change

The bill's scope has expanded to include additional scenarios where reinstatement is permissible, such as when a child is in agency custody or when reunification with an adoptive parent is not imminent, and to include 'each' adoptive parent in cases involving multiple adoptive parents.

TIMELINE

Increased the mandatory waiting period before a parent can petition for reinstatement from one year to 15 months.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility criteria allowing petitions when the child is in agency custody or when reunification with an adoptive parent is not imminent.

Added a new venue option allowing petitions to be filed in the county where the child formerly resided, with court approval.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the court to appoint counsel for each adoptive parent if they are unable to pay or would suffer financial hardship.

Updated consent forms to require signatures from 'each' adoptive parent and clarified that consent is irrevocable only after 30 days.

Added a requirement for the petition to include an assessment of the former parent's capacity to meet the child's needs.

Floor votes · House Jun 22, 2026

How they voted

190–11

Passed

Total votes 201

Jun 22, 2026

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican99

88 Yea 11 Nay

88% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

upper

Jun 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Jun 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jun 17, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Jun 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jun 2, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Rules

lower

Jun 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Sep 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Children & Youth

lower

1 primary · 15 co-sponsors