HF 1778 Summary

• Allows adopted persons age 18 and older to request and obtain copies of their original birth records from the state registrar without judicial oversight or parental consent requirements.

• Establishes a birth parent contact preference form enabling birth parents to indicate whether they wish to be contacted, prefer contact through an intermediary, or prefer not to be contacted.

• Eliminates the previous consent to disclosure and affidavit of nondisclosure system, with all such documents expiring June 30, 2022.

• Creates new provisions for adopted persons to obtain identifying information about birth parents (names, birthdates, birthplaces, and last known addresses) when adoptive placements have no live birth record registered in Minnesota.

• Requires the Commissioner of Human Services to conduct a public awareness campaign about these adoption law changes and effective date of July 1, 2024.