Subcommittee hears emotional testimony and reports bill to restore adoptee access to original birth certificates

The subcommittee heard extensive testimony on House Bill 301, which would allow adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates.

Sponsor Delegate Carlson framed the measure as an equality effort that restores adult adoptees’ access to a factual record of their birth. Multiple adult adoptees and adoptive parents testified in support, describing personal experiences of lost identity and the administrative barriers they face. One witness said amended birth certificates often change the adoptee’s name and even the state of birth; several speakers said the sealed-record process is expensive and cumbersome and that DNA services have become a de facto substitute for accessible official records.

Supporters argued the bill does not erase adoptive-parent rights or remove privacy protections; the measure includes a contact-preference form so birth parents can indicate whether they welcome contact. Social workers and child-placement agencies testified in favor, calling it a correction of an outdated practice. The committee engaged senators who cautioned that releasing original certificates can open painful chapters for some adopted people; Senator Jordan, an adoptee, said redaction options deserve careful consideration.

The clerk held the roll open for votes and ultimately reported the bill out of committee with the recorded roll showing a mix of yes, no and an abstention in the summary notes. The transcript indicates the committee continued to workshop technical language and recognized this has been an item of repeated debate over years.