The bill amends Section 192.008 of the Health and Safety Code to enhance access to birth records for adopted individuals. It introduces new provisions that allow the state registrar to provide a noncertified copy of an adopted person's original birth certificate to the individual or their adult descendants, siblings, surviving spouses, or adoptive parents, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions include that the adopted person must be at least 18 years old, a supplementary birth certificate must have been issued, and appropriate proof of identity must be provided. Additionally, the bill establishes that a fee will be charged for this service, equivalent to the fee for issuing a noncertified copy of a birth certificate.

The bill also includes a stipulation that the state registrar is not required to comply with the new provisions until July 1, 2026, allowing for a transition period. The effective date for the entire act is set for September 1, 2025. Overall, the legislation aims to balance the accessibility of birth records for adopted individuals while maintaining the confidentiality of adoption placements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 192.008 (Health and Safety Code 192)
House Committee Report: Health and Safety Code 192.008 (Health and Safety Code 192)
Engrossed: Health and Safety Code 192.008 (Health and Safety Code 192)