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AB-1449 • 2026

Children: temporary custody.

Children: temporary custody.

Children Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Celeste Rodriguez
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Children: Shorter Time for Adoption Papers

This law changes how long adoptive parents have to file adoption requests or guardianship petitions after signing an agreement in independent adoptions.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the time limit for filing an adoption request from 10 working days to 7 working days after signing an agreement in independent adoptions.
  • Keeps the same 30 calendar day limit for filing a guardianship petition after the child leaves the hospital.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Adoptive parents who are part of independent adoptions.
  • Courts that handle adoption and guardianship cases.

Terms To Know

Independent Adoption
An adoption where the birth parent(s) choose the adoptive family without using an agency.
Guardianship Petition
A request to a court for permission to take care of someone else's child when they cannot do it themselves.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change the rules about taking children into temporary custody.
  • It only affects independent adoptions and does not cover other types of adoption processes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-03-28 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.

  4. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  5. 2025-02-22 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  6. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1449, as introduced, Celeste Rodriguez.
Children: temporary custody.
Existing law authorizes any peace officer to, without a warrant, take into temporary custody a child who is in a hospital if the release of the child to a prospective adoptive parent or a representative of a licensed adoption agency poses an immediate danger to the child’s health or safety, except as specified. Existing law requires, in every independent adoption proceeding under these provisions, the prospective adoptive parent or parents to file with the court either an adoption request within 10 working days after execution of an adoption placement agreement, or a guardianship petition within 30 calendar days after the child’s discharge from the hospital, whichever is earlier.
This bill would instead require the prospective adoptive parent or parents in that case to file with the court either an adoption request within 7 working days after
execution of an adoption placement agreement, or a guardianship petition within 30 calendar days after the child’s discharge from the hospital, whichever is earlier.

Current Bill Text

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