Signed by Governor Chris Sununu

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends child adoption laws for unmarried couples.

Highlights:

• Authorizes any 2 adults to adopt, including an unmarried adult with the consent of at least one of the adoptee’s parents and with the intention to share the parenting responsibilities with any individual, including one of the adoptee’s parents or an individual or individuals who are parents of the child conceived via assisted reproduction for the purpose of confirming the legal relationship between child and parent (Sec. 26.1).

• Requires the court to ensure that the child is continuously represented by counsel until the case is closed whenever a court places a child outside his or her home, and requires the appointment of counsel to be made in a timely and sufficient manner (Sec. 26.33).

Full Bill Text