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SB 2596

AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 9 co-sponsors

The bill creates a court-backed framework to ensure post-separation sibling visitation and contact for children separated due to adoption, foster care, or guardianship, based on th

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2596

Summary of Bill SB 2596 ( Rhode Island, 2026 )

Title

AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- ADOPTION OF CHILDREN

Introduced: February 13, 2026 | Senate Judiciary

Sponsors: Thompson, Pearson (co-sponsors listed)

Effective Date: Upon passage

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a right to post-separation sibling visitation and contact for children who are separated from their siblings due to an open adoption, foster placement, or guardianship.
  • Aims to preserve sibling relationships after separation in the context of adoption, guardianship, or foster care.

2) Key Provisions

Creation of Post-Separation Sibling Privileges (15-7-14.2)

  • The family court must enter a decree granting post-separation sibling privileges at:
    • the time an adoption decree is entered, or
    • the time of placement in foster care, or
    • the time any sibling is placed under guardianship and separated from siblings.
  • Privileges include, but are not limited to, the right to visit, contact, and interact with separated siblings.

Eligibility and Cooperation

  • Adoptive parents, foster parents, or guardians must cooperate with requests to exercise these privileges.
  • Court orders and any required investigations must be conducted to facilitate visitation and contact.

Criteria for Court Grant

A court shall grant post-separation sibling privileges if it determines:
1. The best interests of the child would be served by granting privileges.
2. There is a significant emotional attachment between the separated siblings.
3. A post-separation sibling privileges agreement is negotiated in good faith by adoptive/foster parents or guardians and the birth parents (if they hold custody of other siblings). If negotiations fail, the family court can set terms and conditions via order.
4. The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and the child’s court-appointed advocate (or guardian ad litem) shall cooperate and recommend privileges unless there is a risk of physical or mental harm to one or more siblings.

Participation and Modifications

  • Any sibling aged 12 or older has the right to be heard by the family court regarding post-separation privileges.
  • Agreements must be approved by the court; modifications require court review if the parties cannot agree.
  • Modifications agreed by parties must be filed with the court.

Court Intervention and Damages

  • If court intervention is sought under the negotiated agreement process, monetary damages may not be awarded to either party for establishing or modifying post-separation privileges.

Standards for Modifying Privileges

  • Modifications may be granted only if the court, after a hearing, determines that the modification is in the best interests of the child.
  • The court may seek DCYF input before issuing a modification order, but is not required to.

3) Affected Parties

  • Children who have been separated from siblings due to open adoption, foster care, or guardianship.
  • Adoptive parents, foster parents, and guardians of the separated children.
  • Birth parents (where custody of other siblings exists and relevant to negotiations).
  • DCYF (Department of Children, Youth and Families) and court-appointed special advocates or guardians ad litem.

4) Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • The act directs the family court to issue a decree of post-separation sibling privileges at key milestones (adoption decree, placement in foster care, or guardianship separation).
  • Privileges require negotiation of an agreement, with court involvement if negotiations fail.
  • The act allows for hearings specifically to determine whether modification is in the child’s best interests.
  • Effective date: immediate upon passage.

5) Notes

  • The act emphasizes non-monetary remedies (no monetary damages awarded for establishing or modifying privileges).
  • Includes a mechanism for recognizing the child’s voice: siblings aged 12+ may be heard in court.

Overall Impact

SB 2596 would codify a formal framework to safeguard and facilitate ongoing relationships between separated siblings in the adoption/foster/guardianship context, promoting the child’s best interests through court-approved visitation agreements, collaboration among parents, guardians, DCYF, and advocates, and a clear process for establishing and modifying these privileges.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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