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All information is taken from official state legislative pages unless otherwise indicated. We also link each bill to LegiScan, an easy way to check on bills. For more information on these bills, click on the appropriate links. Go to individual State Pages for more details on state actions. such as Action Alerts, testimonies, reports, and news stories. BN submits testimony and letters regularly to legislatures, but these documents will not go live until after a hearing or floor vote has taken place. Depending on state rules, some bills may be renumbered during sessions or when they are carried over from a previous session. Reported by Marley Greiner (additions and corrections are welcome!)
Prior sessions:2025| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014
2026 State Legislative Schedules and dates
Original Birth Certificate and Adoption Records
Session Opens: January 5, 2026
Session Closes: August 31, 2026
Crossover Deadline: May 29, 2026
SB381 Legislative Page Legiscan
SB381 Summary: Restores the right of all California-born adoptees at the age of 18 to obtain their Original Birth certificates upon request: includes right of access to the descendants of deceased adoptees; provides option for non-binding voluntary Contact Preference Form for birthparents.
Lead Sponsor(s): Sen Aisha Wahab (D)
Support: Bastard Nation, Adoptee Rights Law Center, Adoptees United, Adoptive Foster Family Coalition of New York, California Alliance for Adoptee Rights, Concerned United Birthparents, Saving Our Sisters, Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Reform, Ethical Family Building, Adoption Knowledge Affiliates, Women’s Collective for Adoption Equality, Catholic Mothers for Truth and Transparency, Mothers for Open Records, Family Preservation Project, Baby Scoop Era Research Institute, Families Rising, American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan Adoptee Rights Coalition, Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc. National Center on Adoption and Permanency
Oppose: None
Actions
- February 4, 2025: Introduced; 1st Reading
- February 26, 2025: Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee
- January 5 2026: Amended; Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee and withdrawn; Referred to RLS, Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Health Committee
- January 13, 2026: Hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee; Passed13-0
- January 14, 2026: Hearing i n Seate Heath Committee, Passed 7-0
- January 20, 2026: Hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee; placed in Suspense File
- January 22, 2026: Hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee. Passed 7-0
- January 27, 2026: Senate Floor vote: Passed 35-0
- January 28, 2026: Received by Assembly; 1st Reading
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Session Opens: January 6, 2026
Session Closes: April 15, 2026
Crossover Deadline: None
HB433 Legislative Page Legiscan
HB433 Summary: Weird hybrid birth certificate bill tht appears to pertain to stepparent adoptions. Amend KRS 199.570 to allow the names of adopted parents and deceased biological parents to appear on a new birth certificate issued upon adoption if it is requested by the court, adopted parents, or adopted child; direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create a birth certificate form that complies with this section through the promulgation of administrative regulations.
Lead Sponsor: Rep Vanessa Grossl (R)
Support:
Oppose:
Actions
- January 20, 2026: Introduced; Referred to House Committee on Committees
- January 28, 2026: Referred to House Family and Children Committee
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Session Opens: January 6. 2026
Session Closes: November 30, 2026
Crossover Deadline: None
HB536 Legislative Page Legiscan
SB644 Legislative Page Legscan
HB536/SB644 Summary: Amends current Pennsylvania access laws that release a ridiculous “summary document” of information taken from the OBC and replaces it with access to OBC with no restrictions or conditions; eliminates requirement that adoptee be a high school graduate or equivalent to receive the OBC; eliminates birthparent redaction” privilege. Fiscal Note: None posted. ” Bills carried over from 2025 session.
Lead Sponsors:
Support: Bastard Nation, Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, Adoptee Rights Law Center,
Oppose:
Actions:
HB536
- February 10, 2025: Introduced; Referred to House Heath Committee
SB644:
- April 21, 2025: Introduced; Referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee
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Session Opens: January 20, 2026
Session Closes: March 6, 2026
Crossover Deadline: March 3, 2026
HB333 Legislative Page Legiscan
HB333 Summary: This is a clean-up bill. Last year HB129 was passed, which authorized Utah adoptees the right to request adoption documents, which included the OBC and certain court records, but a Utah a court ruled that the new law pertained only for adoptions finalized on or after November 20, 2026. The new bill maintains the court order provision but lifts the date frame “allowing adoptees “regardless of the date of the adoption” the ability to access their records. It also adds a new provision that restricts the release of a parent(s) physical address and another that permits a bparent to veto the releases. Fiscal Note: “likely will not materially impact state revenue.”
Lead Sponsor: Rep Raymond P Ward (R)
Support:
Oppose:
Actions:
- January 23, 2026: Introduced; 1st Reading in House Rules
- February 17, 2026: House Judiciary Committee: Passed favorable
- February 20, 2026: House Floor vote: Passed 77-0-3
- February 24, 2026: Introduced in Senate; Referred to Senate Health and Human Services Committee
- February 25, 2026: Senate Health and Hua Services Committee passed favorable
- February 26, 2026: 2nd reading
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Session Opens: January 14 2026
Session Closes: March 14, 2026
Crossover Deadline: February 17, 2026
HB301 Legislative Page Legiscan
HB301 Summary: Identical to bills introduced in last 2 sessions. Unrestricted access for all Virginia-born adoptees at the age of 18 with no restrictions or conditions. The only change from last session is the addition of a Contact Preference Form, which does not restrict access. Fiscal Note: “minimal and can be handled within existing resources.”
Lead Sponsors : Del Karina Callsen (D); Del Debra Gardiner(,D), Wendell Walker
Support: Bastard Nation, Adoptee Rights Law Center, Adoptees United, Capitol Adoptee Rights Coalition, Children’s Home Society of Virginia, C2 Adoptions, Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance
Oppose:
Actions
- January 9, 2026: Prefiled
- January 14, 2026: Referred to House Health Human Services Committee
- January 16, 2026: Referred to HHS Health Subcommittee
- January 20, 2026: House HSS Health Subcommittee hearing; Passed 7-2
- January 22, 2026: House HSS Committee hearing, Passed 16-6
- January 26, 2026: House Floor 1st Reading
- January 28, 2026: House Floor Vote: Passed 84-10
- January 29, 2026: Senate 1st Reading; Referred to Senate Education and Health Committee; expected to send to Senate Rehab and Social Service Committee for hearing.
- February 27: 2026: Senate Education and Health Committee; Passed 13-1-1.
- March 3, 2026: Bill expected to be voted on Senate Floor
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Session Opens: January 14, 2026
Session Closes: March 14, 2026
Crossover Deadline: March 4 ,2026
HB4672 Legislative Page Legiscan
HB4672 Summary: Another in a long series of attempts to restores OBC access in West Viginia. The State Registrar or other custodians of vital records authorized to issue certified copies shall issue a certified copy of an original birth certificate, and any evidence of an adoption, upon written request by (1) an adopted person, if 18 years of age or more; (2) an adopted person’s direct line descendant if the adopted person is deceased, or (3) a lawful representative of such adopted person, or a lawful representative of such deceased adopted person’s direct line descendants, as the case may be. The certified copy of the original birth certificate shall be in a form that clearly indicates that it may not be used for legal identification. All procedures:
Lead Sponsor: Del Chris Anders
Support:: Bastard Nation, Adoptee Rights Law Center, Adoptees United
Oppose:
Actions
January 21, 2026: Introduced; Referred to House Health and Human Services Committee
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Session Opens: January 13, 2026
Session Closes: March 19, 2026
Crossover Deadline: None
Companion Bills
SB388 Legislative Page Legiscan
AB390 Legislative Page Legiscan
SB388/AB390 Summary: Nearly identical to earlier bills. Unrestricted access for all Wisconsin-born adoptees at the age of 18. Does not apply to descendants. Fiscal Note: “indeterminate.” Bills carried over from 2025 session.
Lead Sponsors:
Support: Bastard Nation, Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, Adoptee Rights Law Center, Adoptees United, Adoptee Equal Rights Tasks Force Wisconsin, Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Chippewa Nation (LCO)
Oppose: Children; and the Law Section Board, State Bar of Wisconsin
Action
SB388
- August 11, 2025: Introduced; 1st reading, Referred to the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families
- August 10, 2025: Public hearing
AB390
- August 11, 2025: Introduced; 1st reading, Referred to House Children and Families Committee
- September 4. 2025: Public hearing held
Traditional Safe Haven Bills
Arizona
Session Opens: January 12, 2026
Session Closes: April 26, 2026
Cross Over Deadline: None
HB2365 Legislative Page Legiscan
HB2365 Summary: Creates system where appropriate state agency will contact private adoption agencies for placement.
Lead Sponsor: Rep Rachel Keshel
Support:
Oppose: Bastard Nation
Actions
- January 20, 2026: Introduced; 1st Reading; Referred to House Health and Human Services Committee
- February 4, 2026: Hearing in House Health and Human Service Committee
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Session Opens: January 7, 2026
Session Closes: July 31, 2026
Crossover Deadline: None
H199 Legislative page Legiscan
H199 Summary: Increases from the age that babies can be safe havened from 7 days to 30 days. Fiscal Note: None posted. Bill carried over from 2025t session.
Lead Sponsors:
Support:
Oppose: Bastard Nation, Stop Safe Hven Baby Boxes Now, Adoptees United
Actions
- February 27, 2025: Introduced; referred to Joint Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee’ Senate Concurred
- October 9, 2025: Hearing scheduled (no record that hearing was held)
- February 5, 2026: Passed Favorable Joint Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee; Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
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Session Opens: January 13, 2026
Session Closes: May 7. 2026
Crossover Deadline: None
HB4696 Legislative Page Legiscan
HB4696 Summary: Increases from the age that babies can be safe havened from 30 days to 1 year. Fiscal Note: None posted.
Lead Sponsors:
Support:
Oppose: Bastard Nation, Stop Safe Haven Baby Boxes Now, Adoptees United
Actions
- December 16, 2025: Introduced (Prefiled); Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- January 13 2026: Re-referred t House Judiciary Committee
- January 28, 2026: House Judiciary Committee hearing
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Session Opens: January 13, 2026
Session Closes: March 19, 2026
Crossover Deadline: None
Companion Bills
SB243/AB327 Summary: Increases the age of Safe Haven age from 72 hours to 30 days. ICWA protections. Fiscal Note: None posted. Bills carried over from 2025 session.
Lead Sponsors:
Support: Wisconsin Family Action
Oppose: Bastard Nation, Ho-Chunk Nation, Wisconsin Department of Children and Family Services
Actions
AB237
- May 2, 2025: AB237 Introduced, 1st Reading, Referred to House Children and Families Committee
- May 21, 2025: Public hearing
- January 5, 2026: Amendment 1 offered: addition of tribal consultation on bill; Indian custody procedures and minor changes
- January 15, 2026: Amendment passed 9-0; Referred to House Rules Committee
- February 10, 2026: Hearing scheduled in House Rules Committee scheduled; Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- February 11 2026: Rules suspended 2nd and 3rd reading.
SB243
- May 9,. 2025: Introduced; 1st Reading; Referred to Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families
- January 13, 2026: Amendment 1 offered: addition of tribal consultation on bill; Indian custody procedures and minor changes
- January 27, 2026: Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families hearing – no reported vote
- February 3, 2026: Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families hearing, Passed 5-0
- February 11, 2026: Senate: laid on table
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Safe Haven Baby Box Bills
Many Safe Haven Baby Box bills have been introduced this year.
Please go to the Legislation Page at the top Stop Haven Baby Boxes Now! website for detailed legislative information as well as many other details, including individual state pages.
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Federal Legislation
Most federal legislation does not pertain to adoptee civil rights directly, but we are featuring several bills that are connected to the activist concerns and our community.
HR5492 /SB2923The Adoptee Citizenship Act 2025 Rep Adam Smith); Rep Don Bacon), Sen Mazie Hirono ; Sen Susan Collins renamed Protect Adoptees and American Families Acts the 6the attempt to pass the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2015 and identical to bills introduced 2019, 2021, and 2021.
This bill expands the application of automatic acquisition of citizenship for certain children born outside of the United States. Specifically, the bill provides citizenship retroactively to such a child who, while under the age of 18, (1) resided in the United States as a lawful permanent resident (or had a pending application for such status), and (2) was in the legal custody of the child’s citizen parent. It also eliminates the physical custody requirement for the automatic acquisition of citizenship. The bill applies to a child meeting these requirements who was born after noon on January 9, 1941, but who turned 18 before February 27, 2001 (the effective date of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000). Introduced September 18, 2025
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S.604. Sen Amy Klobuchar (and Kevin Cramer akes unregulated custody transfers a form of child abuse and neglect under federal child-welfare law. Defines an unregulated custody transfer whenever a child is placed with a non-relative or otherwise unfamiliar adult, with the intention of severing the parental or guardian relationship with the child, without reasonably ensuring the child’s safety, and without legally transferring parental or guardian rights. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Two identical bills from the 117th and 118th Congressional sessions were introduced but did not receive hearings. The bill was introduced on February 13, 2025 and has carried over tp 2026.
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S??? Sponsored by Sen Jon Husted (R-Ohio) the bill targets adaption facilitators. Apparently, it has not been introduced yet, but press releases indicate that the bill will (1) limit adoption professionals to running paid advertisements only in the states where they hold a license’ (2) ensure payments to expectant mothers are made through a provider that is licensed where the expectant mother resides. (3) prohibit unlicensed entities from advertising or providing adoption services.
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Passed
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Carried Over
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Dead
Session Opens: January 6, 2026
Session Closes: April 5, 2026
Crossover Deadline: February 13, 2026
HB838 Legislative Page Legiscan
HB838 Summary: Another attempt to restore the right of Mississippi-born adopted people to obtain a copy of their original birth certificates and identical to last year’s HB1395.The bill is a little confusing, but it appears that the OBC will be released without restriction to those 21 and older. A Contact Preference Form is included in the bill, but if a parent forbids contact, the OBC will still be released, although other identifying information will not.
Lead Sponsor: Rep Billy Calvert
Support: Bastard Nation (conditional due to confusing veto-language). Other supporting pending.
Oppose:
Actions
- January 16, 2026: Introduced; Referred to House Judiciary Committee A
- February 3, 2026: Dead. Died in committee
Updated February 27, 2026
