Bill > H0422

This bill amends Idaho's adoption record disclosure laws to provide adult adoptees (age 18 and older) with access to their original birth certificate and sealed adoption file records, with some important conditions. Under the new provisions, an adult adoptee can request their original birth certificate and adoption file documents by completing a voluntary adoption registration process. If a birth parent is also registered in the system, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period during which the birth parent can: indicate a preferred contact method, request no contact, or request that their personally identifying information be redacted from the records for a period of five years. The bill maintains privacy protections by keeping adoption proceedings and most related records confidential, but creates a clear pathway for adult adoptees to obtain information about their biological origins. The changes apply to adoptions that occur on or after July 1, 2022, and the bill itself is set to take effect on July 1, 2025. The legislation aims to balance the rights of adoptees to know their biological background with the privacy concerns of birth parents by providing a structured, consensual process for information sharing.

Justice

State Affairs Committee (House)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0422/