SB 381: Vital records: adoptees’ birth certificates.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law prohibits an agency from disclosing personal information that would link the information to the individual unless, among other things, the information is provided to a governmental entity by law, or the disclosure is to the individual to whom the information pertains. Existing law makes vital records related to adoptions, other than a newly issued birth certificate, available only upon the order of the superior court of the county of residence of the adopted child or of the county granting the order of adoption.

This bill would authorize, beginning on July 1, 2028, the disclosure of an original birth certificate, as defined, to an adopted person, or descendant, as defined, of a deceased adopted person, would require the State Registrar to provide a copy of the original birth certificate to those persons, and would establish a process to request an original birth certificate, as specified. The bill would also require the State Registrar to create and make available to a birth parent a contact preference form on or before July 1, 2028, containing certain elections that would be available for release when a request for an original birth certificate is made.

Existing law requires the clerk of the court to report the decree to the State Registrar within 5 days after a decree of adoption. Existing law requires the State Registrar to generate a new birth certificate when the State Registrar receives a report of adoption from a specified court or when the State Registrar receives a specified court order.

Existing law requires the new birth certificate to bear certain information and be identical to the certificate issued to the natural parents, except, when requested by the adopting parents, the certificate is required to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents.

This bill would remove the adopted parents exception described above that required the certificate to omit the facility of birth and the race and color of the parents.

Existing law authorizes the adopting parents to request an amended certificate that omits, among other things, the city and county of birth, or the color and race of the parents.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 14 · Republican 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 13, 2026August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. August 5, 2026August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
3. July 1, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 25, 2026Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
5. June 23, 2026June 23 hearing postponed by committee.
6. June 11, 2026June 16 hearing postponed by committee.
7. May 21, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
8. May 4, 2026Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
9. January 27, 2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
10. January 27, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 3299.) Ordered to the Assembly.
11. January 26, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
12. January 22, 2026Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.