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!