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HB 898

Enact the Putative Fathers Matter Act

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Darnell Brewer

The bill adds mandatory notice to putative fathers and certain grandparents in child-welfare and visitation cases to protect their interests and ensure timely case planning.

Referred to committee
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Bill Summary · HB 898

Overview

HB 898 (Ohio, 136th General Assembly) proposes the Putative Fathers Matter Act. It adds requirement for notice to putative fathers and grandparents in certain child-welfare and visitation proceedings, and makes related amendments to the juvenile court and case-planning framework.

Main purpose and intent

  • Expand notice requirements to ensure putative fathers are informed about child-welfare hearings and companionship/visitation proceedings.
  • Require notice to grandparents in child-welfare hearings.
  • Integrate putative fathers and grandparents into procedural steps to protect their interests and potential parental rights.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions and scope (Section 2151.011):
    • Clarifies who counts as a juvenile court, and defines terms including putative father and related child-welfare constructs.
    • Establishes that putative fathers and certain grandparents can be recognized in proceedings for notice purposes.
  • Adjudicatory and dispositional timelines (Sections 2151.28, 2151.35):
    • Reaffirms or refines timeframes for adjudicatory and dispositional hearings in abuse/neglect cases, delinquency, and related matters.
    • Maintains expedited schedules where relevant (e.g., thirty-day adjudicatory window for abuse/neglect cases, with extensions for counsel or service as permitted).
  • Case planning and notice (Sections 2151.412, 2151.414, 2151.415, 2151.416, 2151.417):
    • Requires case plans for children in various statuses (temporary custody, custody, protective supervision, planned permanent living arrangements, etc.).
    • Introduces or formalizes notice obligations to putative fathers and grandparents identified under the Putative Fathers Matter Act (Sections 2151.471, 2151.47).
    • Sets processes for changes to case plans, including timely court review, hearings, and potential expedited action when necessary for child safety.
  • Putative father registry and steps (Section 2151.47 and 2151.471):
    • Requires establishment and update of putative father registry information, and ensures the court notifies identified putative fathers about relevant hearings and case-plan changes.
  • Case plan content and modification (Section 2151.412 et al.):
    • Case plans must reflect health and safety priorities, permanency goals, and concurrent service efforts to achieve permanency, with explicit pathways for modifying plans through court-approved processes.
  • Permanency and custody considerations (Sections 2151.413, 2151.415, 2151.353, 2151.354):
    • Reiterates standards for permanent custody decisions, including best-interest determinations and factors such as interaction with family, needs for permanency, and relative or nonrelative custody options.
    • Ensures that putative fathers and grandparents receive appropriate notice in related permanent custody proceedings.

Who would be affected

  • Families involved in juvenile court proceedings for abused, neglected, or dependent children.
  • Putative fathers (those not legally recognized as parents) and grandparents with companionship/visitation orders.
  • Public children services agencies and private child-placing agencies, which must implement enhanced notice and case-planning procedures.
  • Guardians ad litem and attorneys representing children and parents, who participate in updated notice and planning processes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Emphasizes timely scheduling of adjudicatory and dispositional hearings with clear deadlines and allowed continuances for counsel or service.
  • Requires timely development, filing, and journalization of case plans, with court oversight on changes.
  • Mandates notice to putative fathers and grandparents in specified hearings, with potential for additional hearings if changes to case plans are contested.
  • Preserves court authority to proceed with orders while ensuring due process for parties identified under the act.

Note: The bill text is extensive and technical; this summary highlights the core aims and procedural shifts related to notice, permanency planning, and case-management in Ohio juvenile proceedings.

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

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