Governor Signs HB 301 into Law

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on April 13, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2026

Governor Signs HB 301 into Law, Marking Major Step Forward for Adoptee Rights in Virginia

Richmond, VA — Today, the Governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, officially signed House Bill 301 (HB 301) into law, marking a significant milestone in advancing the rights and recognition of adoptees across the Commonwealth. This makes Virginia the 17th state in the country to allow adoptees unrestricted access to their own birth certificates.

HB 301 represents a meaningful step toward greater transparency, dignity, and access for individuals impacted by adoption. The legislation reflects years of advocacy, collaboration, and thoughtful policy-making aimed at addressing long-standing barriers faced by adoptees seeking information about their origins.

This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership and dedication of the bill’s patrons – Chief Patron Katrina Callsen along with co-patrons, Wendell Walker, Debra Gardner, Karen Keys-Gamarra, and Phil Hernandez – whose commitment to fairness and equity helped guide HB 301 through the legislative process. Their efforts ensured that the voices of adoptees and their families were heard and respected at every stage.

The Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance also extends our sincere gratitude to the many supporters of adoptee rights, and with a special thanks to our partner organizations who assisted us through this process – Adoptees’ Liberty Movement Association (ALMA), Adoptee Rights Law Center, Capital Coalition for Adoptee Rights, Georgia Alliance for Adoptee Rights, and Louisiana Coalition for Adoptee Rights. Their tireless work, personal stories, and steadfast commitment to reform were instrumental in raising awareness and building momentum for this important legislation. We would also like to express our great appreciation to our policy expert, David May and the Macaulay Satterlund & Sessa firm. Through education, outreach, and advocacy, they helped bring this issue to the forefront and inspired meaningful change.

The signing of HB 301 underscores Virginia’s commitment to supporting adoptees and promoting policies rooted in compassion, transparency, and truth. As this law takes effect on July 1, 2026, it ensures equality for Virginia-born adoptees throughout the state and around the world.

For more information about HB 301 and its impact, please contact the Virginia Alliance for Adoptee Rights at [email protected].

House Vote Expected This Week

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 25, 2026

The 2026 legislative session is off to a good start for us in Virginia. HB 301 has been passed by the House Health and Human Services Committee and is headed to the full House of Delegates this week.

The bill will receive three readings on three separate days in the House. The first reading is scheduled for Monday, January 26th. We expect the second reading (when amendments may be proposed) on Tuesday, and the third reading (when final debate and the bill vote takes place) is expected on Wednesday.

Your Voice is Vital

While a previous version of the bill passed the House unanimously last year and we are pleased with the progress so far, it is not a done deal until the vote is cast. Delegates need to hear from YOU about the importance of this bill!

Voice Your Support
There are two ways to show your support for HB 301:
1. Submit written testimony on the bill by visiting this link and selecting HB 301.
2. Contact the members of the House of Delegates by phone or email, asking them to vote YES on HB 301.

We have made it easy for you to do this by writing a sample message that you can modify as necessary. We have also provided a spreadsheet with the email addresses and phone numbers for the members which can be found here.

Also, don’t forget to thank our bill Patrons!

Chief Patron, Delegate Katrina Callsen – [email protected]

Chief Co-Patron, Delegate Wendell Walker – [email protected]

Chief Co-Patron, Debra Gardner – [email protected]

New Year, New Bill

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 20, 2026

We are excited that HB 301 has been introduced to the House by Chief Patron, Delegate Katrina Callsen along with Chief Co-Patrons Delegate Wendell Walker and Delegate Debra Gardner.

As this year’s legislative session is underway, HB 301 has been assigned to the House Health and Human Service Committee and was passed on a 7-2 vote in the Health subcommittee this morning. The next step is to be heard by the full HHS committee, which we anticipate will be this Thursday, January 22nd.

You can find the email and phone number for all of the delegates on the committee here. Contact them and let them know why HB 301 is important to you and ask them for their favorable support!

One step closer to equality!

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on February 6, 2025

Virginia born-adoptees are one step closer to equality now that HB 2093 has passed the House of Delegates with a vote of 99-0.

Following crossover to the Senate, HB 2093 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Education and Health. It is scheduled for a hearing before the Health subcommittee on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

Additionally, we are pleased to have Delegate Ian Lovejoy, Senator Jennifer Boysko, and Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy to join HB 2093 as co-patrons.

HB 2093 on Committee Agenda Tomorrow (1/28/25)

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 27, 2025

HB 2093 is on the agenda to be heard by the House Health and Human Services Committee tomorrow (1/28/25) at 8 AM.

If this bill is important to you, let the Delegates who serve on this committee know why! You can leave public comments in support of the bill at this link:

https://hodspeak.house.virginia.gov/submit_testimony…

Or visit our website for more information on calling and emailing the committee.

virginiaadopteerights.org

Don’t forget to ask your friends and family to join you in supporting this bill!

HHS Committee to Hear HB 2093

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 25, 2025

HB 2093 was favorably reported out of the House subcommittee with a vote of 6-2 on January 23rd. It is now in the House Health and Human Services Committee. Although we have no definitive date for when HB 2093 will be heard, we expect it will be heard by the committee this week. The HHS Committee meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so it is very possible it will be on the agenda for Tuesday.

Ask Committee Members to Support!

We need your help in contacting the members of the House Health and Human Services Committee, asking them to vote YES on HB 2093. You will find a list of the committee members along with their phone number and email address below. Click here for sample email messages that you can modify as necessary.

Additionally, you can submit public comment on HB 2093 here:

Submit Public Comment on HB 2093

Committee Member Phone & Email List

Plain Text Email List

[email protected]
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*Delegate Sickles is the Committee Chair

Please BCC [email protected] when you send your email.

Also, if you receive a reply with any feedback from a Delegate or their staff, please forward the message to [email protected] to help us in identifying any issues that we need to address.

Thank You For Your Support!

HB 2093 Favorably Passed by House Subcommittee

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 23, 2025

HB 2093 was voted favorably out of subcommittee this morning with a vote of 6-2 and one abstention. The next step will be a hearing by the House Heath and Human Services Committee. This committee meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we will work over the next few days to continue educating members of the committee about the bill and the need to restore equality to adopted persons.

Stay tuned for further updates and action alerts…

Subcommittee Hearing on HB 2093 Thursday

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 22, 2025

HB2093 has been assigned to the House HHS Behavioral Health Subcommittee and is on the agenda for 7 AM on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to contact the Delegates with your support, you can still submit public comment or email your support to the subcommittee members.

Submit Public Comment on HB 2093

You can stream the live meeting video by clicking the link below:

View Live Meeting Video

Thank you for your support as we work together for adoptee rights in Virginia!

Callsen & Gardner join as Chief Co-Patrons

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 16, 2025

Delegate Katrina Callsen (D) – County of Albemarle (part); City of Charlottesville and Delegate Debra Gardner (D) – County of Chesterfield (part) have signed on as Chief Co-Patrons to House Bill 2093, patroned by Wendell Walker (R) – County of Campbell (part); City of Lynchburg. HB 2093 is a bill that would restore the right of Virginia-born adopted persons to their original birth certificate at the age of 18. A right that they had prior to 1967. This is an important bill to ensure that adopted people are not discriminated against and have the same equal rights as all other people in the commonwealth.

As we have seen across the country, with similar bills being passed in both Democrat and Republican controlled legislatures, adoptee rights is not a partisan issue. Kansas and Alaska never sealed OBCs from adult adoptees. As of July 2024, thirteen more states have restored unrestricted access to adult adopted persons – Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont.

We are appreciative of Delegates Callsen, Gardner, and Walker for recognizing that ensuring all people have the same equal rights is not a blue or red issue, but the necessary moral and ethical action.

“It is easy to think that problematic laws are in the long-forgotten past, but they are not and the impact can extend generations.”

Katrina Callsen

Virginia House of Delegates

HB 2093 Subcommittee Assignment

Virginia Adoptee Rights Alliance on January 15, 2025

The 2025 legislative session is underway and Delegate Wendell Walker has introduced a new bill to allow adult adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates in Virginia. This bill is identical to the previous session’s bill, with the addition of a contact preference form. This is a good, clean bill that we encourage you to support.

HB 2093 has been assigned to the House HHS Behavioral Health Subcommittee. Although we have no definitive date for when HB 2093 will be heard, this committee meets weekly on Thursdays at 7:30 AM.

Your Help Is Needed

We need your help in contacting the members of the House HHS Behavioral Health Subcommittee, asking them to vote YES on HB 2093.

We have made this easy for you by including the contact information for the subcommittee members below, along with a sample message that you can modify as necessary.

Also, please forward any replies or feedback that you receive from a Delegate or their staff, to [email protected], to help us in identifying any issues that we need to address.

Additionally, you can submit public comment on HB 2093 here.

HHS Behavioral Health Subcommittee

Sample Messages

Sample Message for Virginia-Born Adopted Persons

Subject: Vote YES on HB 2093 – Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Certificates

Dear [Delegate’s Name],

As an adopted person, I am writing to express my unwavering support for HB 2093 (Adult adoptee access to original birth certificate) and request your favorable vote in the upcoming House Health and Human Services – Behavioral Health Subcommittee meeting.

HB2093 simply restores the right of adult adopted persons, born in Virginia, to obtain their own original birth certificate without hindrances. I firmly believe adult adopted people should be treated with dignity, respect, and as equals under the law to non-adopted citizens of Virginia.

I am personally affected by this bill and I strongly encourage you to support HB2093, as written, by voting YES! Your affirmative vote will help advance adoption policies towards a more inclusive and compassionate direction.

Sincerely,
[INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT YOUR CITY AND STATE – If you live in Virginia]

Sample Message for Birth/First Parents

Subject: Birth Parent requesting YES vote on HB 2093 – Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Certificates

Dear [Delegate’s Name],

As a birth/first parent with a deep commitment to the well-being of individuals affected by adoption, I am reaching out to express my strong support for HB 2093. I kindly urge you to vote favorably for this crucial bill when it comes before you in the HHS Behavioral Health Subcommittee.

HB 2093 holds particular significance as it seeks to restore the essential right of adult adopted individuals, born in Virginia, to obtain their original birth certificates without unnecessary barriers. I firmly believe in the importance of treating adult adoptees with dignity, respect, and equality under the law, ensuring they have the same rights as non-adopted citizens of Virginia.

I sincerely hope you will consider the importance of HB 2093 and support it, as written. Your positive vote will contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate approach to adoption policies.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT YOUR CITY AND STATE – If you live in Virginia]

Sample Message for Virginia Residents

Subject: Vote YES on HB 2093 – Adult Adoptee Access to Original Birth Certificates

Dear [Delegate’s Name],

As your constituent, I am requesting your favorable vote in support HB 2093 (Adult adoptee access to original birth certificate) in the upcoming House Health and Human Services – Behavioral Health Subcommittee meeting.

HB2093 simply restores the right of adult adopted persons, born in Virginia, to obtain their own original birth certificate without hindrances. I firmly advocate for treating adult adoptees with dignity, respect, and equality under the law, the same as non-adopted citizens of Virginia.

This bill is very important to me and my family and I enthusiastically urge you to support HB 2093 by voting YES!

Sincerely,
[INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT YOUR ADDRESS]

Thank you for your support!

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