Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/22pdf/21-376_7l48.pdf
Page Number: 28.0

20 

HAALAND v. BRACKEEN 

Opinion of the Court 

Adoption of T. A. W., 186 Wash. 2d 828, 835–837, 850–851, 
383 P. 3d 492, 494–495, 501–502 (2016) (en banc) (mother 
and stepfather); J. W. v. R. J., 951 P. 2d 1206, 1212–1213 
(Alaska 1998) (same).  Indeed, Texas’s own family code per-
mits certain private parties to initiate suits for the termi-
nation of parental rights.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §102.003(a)
(West Cum. Supp. 2022); see Reply Brief for Texas 27.  And 
while petitioners treat “active efforts” as synonymous with
“government programs,” state courts have applied the “ac-
tive efforts” requirement in private suits too.  See, e.g., In 
re  Adoption  of  T. A. W.,  186  Wash. 2d,  at  851–852,  383 
P. 3d, at 502–503; S. S. v. Stephanie H., 241 Ariz. 419, 424, 
388  P. 3d  569,  574  (App.  2017);  In  re  N. B.,  199  P. 3d  16, 
23–24  (Colo.  App.  2007).    That  is  consistent  with  ICWA’s 
findings, which describe the role that both public and pri-
vate actors played in the unjust separation of Indian chil-
dren from their families and tribes.  §1901.  Given all this, 
it is implausible that §1912(d) is directed primarily, much
less exclusively, at the States.6 

Legislation that applies “evenhandedly” to state and pri-
vate actors does not typically implicate the Tenth Amend-
ment.  Murphy, 584 U. S., at ___ (slip op., at 20).  In South 

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6 To bolster their claim that the “active efforts” requirement is aimed
at the States, petitioners point to a statement from the Department of 
the Interior asserting that the reference to “active efforts” reflects Con-
gress’s intent “to require States to affirmatively provide Indian families 
with substantive services and not merely make the services available.”
81 Fed. Reg. 38791 (emphasis added).  This statement does not move the 
needle.  Neither §1912(d) nor the regulations limit themselves to States; 
moreover,  the  regulations  plainly  contemplate  that  services  will  come
from private organizations as well as the government.  25 CFR §23.102
(“Agency means a nonprofit, for-profit, or governmental organization . . . 
that performs, or provides services to biological parents, foster parents, 
or adoptive parents to assist in the administrative and social work nec-
essary  for  foster,  preadoptive,  or  adoptive  placements”).    The  Depart-
ment’s  statement  is  thus  consistent  with  the  plain  language  of  §1912, 
which applies to both private and state actors.