The Senate Finance Committee on May 12 adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 36 that removes consent language for minors 16 and older, eliminates a numerical regulatory limit in section 15, and postpones effective dates to July 1, 2028; staff said the sponsor will pursue the consent issue separately.

Witnesses, including foster-care advocates and a former guardian ad litem, urged support for HB 157 to ensure siblings remain legally recognized after adoption; agencies and the courts warned broad language could create placement-preference conflicts or extra hearings, and the committee set an amendment deadline for May 14, 2026.

Rep. Gray introduced HB 36 to require judicial review within seven calendar days for foster children placed in short-term psychiatric hospitals, require counsel for the child, report on out-of-state placements and create a treatment-foster license; advocates supported the change while some witnesses warned the added 'treatment foster' provision needs statutory guardrails.

Rep. Andrew Gray introduced HB 157 to prevent adoption decrees from terminating legal sibling relationships and to require courts to document best-interest findings about post-adoption visitation; invited testimony will return due to unanswered implementation and confidentiality questions.

Alaska Legislature temporarily suspends rules to advance House Bill No. 36 on foster care.

Foster care recruitment initiatives aim to address declining home numbers and support families.