2026 -- S 2596

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LC004241

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

     Introduced By: Senators Thompson, Burke, Pearson, Patalano, Raptakis, Dimitri,
DiMario, LaMountain, Tikoian, and Bissaillon

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 15-7 of the General Laws entitled "Adoption of Children" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     15-7-14.2. Decree of open adoption / foster placement / guardianship - siblings.

     (a) At the time an adoption decree is entered, or at the time of placement in foster homes

or at the time any sibling is placed under guardianship in a home, residence or facility and separated

from their siblings, the family court shall enter a decree granting post-separation sibling visitation

and/or contact between the siblings (hereinafter “post-separation sibling privileges”):

     (1) Any child or children that have been separated from their sibling(s) because of or by

and through an open adoption, or who have been placed in a foster home or placed under

guardianships shall be entitled to and eligible for post-separation sibling privileges. Post-separation

privileges shall include, but not be limited to, the right to visit, contact and interact with their

siblings pursuant to this section.

     (2) Any adoptive parent, foster parent, or guardian shall cooperate with the

child’s/children’s request to exercise post-separation sibling privileges, any court order and any

administrative investigation to be conducted in order to facilitate the visitation, and contact and

interaction with the subject children.

     (b) A court shall grant post-separation sibling privileges if:

     (1) The court determines that the best interests of the child would be served by granting

post-separation sibling privileges;

     (2) The court finds there is a significant emotional attachment between the separated

siblings;

     (3) The adoptive/foster parents and/or guardians of the children and the birth parents, in

the event that the birth parents have custody of one or more other siblings, jointly negotiate and

execute a post-separation sibling privileges agreement. Any post-separation sibling privileges

agreement shall be negotiated in good faith and if attempts at negotiating the agreement fail, the

family court shall consider the facts and circumstances and enter a court order setting forth the

terms and conditions of the agreement;

     (4) The department of children, youth and families (“department”) and the child’s court-

appointed special advocate or the guardian ad litem, if one has been appointed pursuant to § 40-11-

12, shall cooperate with the adoptive/foster parents and/or guardian and shall recommend post-

separation sibling privileges unless, after investigation, the department finds that one or more of

the siblings may be at risk of physical or mental harm by one of the other siblings.

     (c) Any sibling shall have a right to be heard by the family court relative to post-separation

sibling privileges; provided that, the child is at least twelve (12) years of age; and

     (d) The post-separation sibling privileges agreement shall be approved by the court and

any request to modify the agreement shall be reviewed by the family court if the adoptive/foster

parents and/or guardians are unable to agree to the requested modifications. Any modifications

agreed upon by the adoptive/foster parents and/or guardians shall be filed with the court.

     (e) In the event that court intervention is sought pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of this section,

the court shall not award monetary damages to either party seeking either a court order establishing

post-separation sibling privileges or a modification of those privileges.

     (f) Any request seeking modification of a previously established post-separation sibling

privileges agreement may only be granted by the court if it determines, after a hearing, that the best

interests of a child or children require modification of the agreement. The court may, but is not

required to, seek the input of the department before entering any court order modifying said

agreement.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

***

     This act would establish the rights of adoptive/foster children or those in guardianship, to

have post-separation visitation with their sibling(s).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004241

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