HB2006. sponsored by Rep Cody Harris, is nearly identical to 2021’s HB1386 That bill passed the House with flying colors. Despite overwhelming support in the Senate, it did not receive a hearing because…well, because it’s Texas.
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Governor Charlie Baker has signed H2294/S1140 making Massachusetts the 13th state (and third this year) to acknowledge and codify the right of all of its state-born adopted people at age 18 to obtain without conditions or restrictions their original birth certificates upon request. Current law bars those born between July 17, 1974, and January 1, 2008, to obtain the document without a court order. The new law goes into effect November 3, 2022
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Congratulations Louisiana-born adoptees! Today your right to your original birth certificate is officially restored after 45 years of sealing. Have at it! Let us know when you get it,l send stories, comments, Here is how to obtain your Louisiana Original Birth Certificate.
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This afternoon the Massachusetts Senate by a vote of 40-0 passed he measure passed the House last year and has been held up in the Senate Rules committee since then. Earlier today it was released from the committee and sent to the Senate floor for an immediate vote. There is no reason to think that Governor Charlie Baker will not sign on. In effect, the days of segregated Original Birth Certificate access are about to end in Massachusets.
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On June 15, 2022, Governor. John Bel Edwards signed HB 450--the bill that restores the right of all Louisiana-born adopted people to their Original Birth Certificates upon request, without restriction,.The House, voted 76-21 and the Senate 29-5. For Pete’s sake, Louisiana! Louisiana! If Louisiana can acknowledge, codify our rights, and pass a bill, then any state can!
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There’s some terrific testimony from our friends Elise Lewis and Kenny Tucker from the Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Rights, who have been at it for years, the Louisiana Adoption Advisory Board, first mothers, adoptive mothers, and social workers, as well as bill sponsor Rep. Charles Owen and former lawmaker Danny Martiny sponsor of similar legislation in the past.
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Adopted people in 11 states have unrestricted access to their OBC. Just a couple of weeks ago Vermont restored OBC rights and your neighbor Alabama restored that right 20 years ago. Not one single negative report about unsealing has been published. Access has been normalized. Adoptees are treated just like the Not Adopted and like the Not Adopted no one denies that they have a right to those records and information.
Louisiana adoptee rights activists need our help again. HB 450 passed the Louisiana House 76-21 on March 28, 2022, This is a clean bill. The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee A on May 24. Below is the action alert Louisianas folks sent out today. At this point, they are asking for calls and emails from everyone –not just those with Louisiana connections to request DO PASS with no restrictive amendments added. If you have a Louisiana connection–Louisiana-born adoptee, resident, family, etc.–please include that information.
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On Thursday, April 14, 2022, the Vermont House voted to concur with Senate amendments on H 629. The bill now goes to Governor Phil Scott for his signature. thus making Vermont the 11th state to recognize and affirm the right of all adopted people (in Vermont at age 18) to obtain their original birth certificates without restrictions or conditions. There is no reason to believe that Scott will not sign it.
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Tell the House to retain the original language of the bill– pass the bill as written Keep your letter short and concise. If you are a Louisiana-born adoptee tell them. If you are adopted, tell them. If you have a Louisiana connection, tell them. If you are a birthmother, tell them. Remember, this bill is about adoptee civil rights and the restoration of the right for all adopted people to obtain their own original birth certificates. It is not about search and reunion, claims of birthmother “confidentiality,” or abortion.
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Bastard Nation is a proud partner organization in the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition, along with the Adoptee Rights Law Center and the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York. Plus strategic partner Reclaim the Records
Bastard Nation is a proud partner in the Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, along with Equality for Adoption, Gladney Adoptees for Rights and Equality, and the Adoptee Rights Law Center. Plus strategic partner Reclaim the Records