Bill > HB2647

This bill, known as the Shai Cooper Act, amends Oklahoma adoption law to expand circumstances for waiving home study requirements for certain adoptions. Specifically, the bill allows courts to waive home study requirements when a child is being adopted by an immediate relative (defined as a brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, or uncle), provided certain conditions are met. These conditions include determining the waiver is in the child's best interest, verifying the adopting relative has been living with the child for at least one year, and confirming the adopting relative has no record of felony convictions, child abuse, neglect, or domestic violence. The bill clarifies that a single immediate relative can also request a home study waiver, and updates internal citations to reflect changes in the legal code. The bill will become effective on November 1, 2025, and aims to streamline the adoption process for families seeking to adopt children within their own extended family.