Friends of clean adoption reform,

EXCELLENT NEWS! Today (3.23.23), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signed HB1231 into law, making it the 14th state to announce a policy of unrestricted access to original birth certificates for all adult adoptees (New York was 9th* in 2020)! We were happy, via the American Adoption Congress (AAC), to offer our support for the proposal!  We congratulate all who advocated on behalf of the bill, especially the allied Adoptee Rights Law Center (ARLC).  A ceremonial bill signing is set for next Monday (3.27), and the law will go into effect on 7.1.23!     

The provisions to take effect on July 1, 2023:

• Restore unrestricted access to original birth certificates (OBC) for all adult adoptees of South Dakota (age 18 and above).
• Establish a process which allows adult adoptees to apply to the secretary of health (to request a copy of the original birth certificate, without conditions or restrictions)

Note: As previously reported, the new law in Vermont (signed into law on 5.3.22) will also go into effect on July 1, 2023!

We continue to thank you, and all who support adoptee rights.

Adoptee rights are human rights!
Adoptee rights are civil rights!

Adoptee equality will be restored in all 50 states! And D.C.!

Tim.

*Note: Previously, we noted New York as the 10th state, but is now noted as the 9th state.  Hawaii access law requires an adjustment to restore its position as an unrestricted access state.

States with a policy of unrestricted OBC access for adult adoptees (alphabetical): 
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota (July 1, 2023) and Vermont (VT primary provisions take effect July 1, 2023)