Stay Informed on California Adoptee Rights Law
Get the latest updates on open records legislation, advocacy initiatives, and opportunities to support adoptee rights across California.
Current Legislative Landscape
UPDATE 8/13 – SB 381 was held in committee today.
For those who don’t follow the legislative process closely: being held in committee means the bill will not move forward this session. It’s over for this year. We don’t have easy words for this right now. This bill carried the hopes of thousands of California-born adult adoptees – most of you have been waiting decades for the right to your own original birth certificate. We were so close. We know how deeply this lands, we are hurting too. We fought so hard for this bill, we built a broad and genuine coalition behind it, and we believed in it. That work – the coalition, the relationships, the materials, the connections, and the record we built together – doesn’t disappear. But today, we’re grieving alongside you. We’ll take some time before we talk about what’s next. Right now, we just want you to know: you are not alone in this extreme disappointment, and this fight is not over. More soon. Thank you for showing up for this the way you did.
The CAAR team 💛
Long anticipated, SB 381 was an incredibly simple bill with a powerful promise. The bill would have struck out discriminatory provisions in current California law and simply added:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State Registrar shall provide to an adopted person who is 18 years of age or older and who was born in this state, or to a direct line descendant of a deceased adopted person, a copy of the adopted person’s original birth certificate and any evidence of the adoption previously filed with the State Registrar.
Senator Aisha Wahab was the primary author, with coauthors Senators Archuleta, Ashby, Blakespear, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, McGuire, McNerney, Ochoa Bogh, Pérez, Richardson, Smallwood-Cuevas, Valladares and Wiener, and Assembly Members Haney and Ortega.
SB 381 made it further than any adoptee rights bill in California history: unanimous passage through Senate Judiciary, Senate Health, Senate Appropriations, and a 35-0 full Senate floor vote, followed by an 11-1 passage through Assembly Judiciary. It had no formal opposition from any organization, at any point in the process, and the support of over 20 organizations and thousands of individual voices across the state.
We are not starting over. We’re regrouping, and we intend to bring an even stronger version of this bill back next session, with everything we built and learned this year behind us.
How you can help right now:
- Publicly thank Senator Aisha Wahab and her staff for everything they did this session. Search for her on social media accounts like this one.
- Share your story, we’re collecting testimonials for next session’s campaign
- Follow our public Facebook group to stay involved as we plan next steps
- Sign the petition at Change.org to show ongoing support for OBC access in California
Key legislative issues remain the same: restoring unrestricted rights for adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificates, removing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, and advancing open records legislation. We encourage stakeholders, adoptees, birth families, advocacy groups, and legislators to stay informed as we prepare for next session.
Ongoing campaigns and coalitions are working to build support for reform, emphasizing that adoption law in California should respect the rights and dignity of all individuals. We encourage stakeholders, adoptees, birth families, advocacy groups, and legislators to stay informed and take action to support legislative change.
Key Legislative Dates & Events
Stay informed on upcoming SB 381 hearings, bill deadlines, and advocacy opportunities impacting adoptee rights and open records legislation in California.
Date | Event | |
|---|---|---|
2026 Senate History | 1/5 – SB 381 Re-introduced by Senator Wahab; Referred to Judiciary Committee Hearing 1/13 (Passed 13-0); Referred to Health Committee Hearing 1/14 (Passed 7-0); Referred to Appropriations Committee Hearing 1/20 (Placed in Suspense File); Appropriations Committee Suspense Hearing 1/22 (Passed 7-0); Senate Second Reading 1/26 | — |
1/27 | Senate Floor Vote (Passed 35-0); To Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. | — |
Assembly History 6/16 (postponed to 6/23); 6/23 hearing postponed to 6/30 – Re-referred; 6/30 (Passed 11-1) 8/5 | Assignments: Assembly Health Committee – No longer referred to Health 6/25 pursuant to Assembly Rule 96. Assembly Judiciary Committee – Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96; passed 11-1 on 6/30/2026. Assembly Appropriations Committee – Wed., 8/5 @ 9 AM – Placed on suspense file Assembly Appropriations Suspense Hearing – Thurs., 8/13 – Held in committee and under submission Agenda https://apro.assembly.ca.gov/hearings | — |
— | Assembly Floor – Not reached this session | — |
— | Return to Senate for concurrence floor vote to approve amendments made in Assembly. Not reached this session. | — |
— | Governor’s Signature Not reached this session | — |
Get Involved: Take Action for Adoptee Rights
Your voice is essential in the movement to restore access to original birth certificates for adult adoptees in California. Join us as we advocate for legislative reform, educate the public, and support those affected by outdated adoption laws. Be ready to navigate the portals with your letters when a bill is live.
Contact your legislators to express support for open records legislation and equal rights for adoptees. Sharing your personal story or concerns can make a significant impact in driving change.
Stay informed about current developments and access resources to deepen your understanding of adoption reform. Together, we can work towards a more just and transparent system for all Californians. Explore ways to participate, learn more, and join our community.