LANSING, Mich., Nov. 9, 2023 — Bipartisan legislation to ensure equity and transparency in the lives of adoptees passed the Michigan House today. House Bills 5148 and 5149, introduced by State Reps. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids) and Pat Outman (R-Six Lakes), respectively, will take a monumental step toward alleviating the cumbersome and inequitable process that adoptees have historically faced to obtain their original birth records.
“This lack of access is an issue that has personally impacted my family and so many others who we have come to know in this journey,” Grant said. “These bills highlight Michigan’s dedication to fairness, transparency and every citizen’s right to know their origins.”
Under the bills, adoptees will have a clear path towards obtaining their sought-after information. This will allow adoptees to receive their personal and vital information that can currently be denied. These bills aim to strike a balance between respecting the privacy concerns of birth parents and upholding the right of adoptees to know information that is imperative to them living a full life. By doing so, Michigan will join a growing number of states that recognize the importance of granting equitable access to birth certificates.
“For too long, those that have been adopted have had to deal with too many obstacles standing in their way. This legislation will ensure that they will have access to the official documents they need,” Outman said.
The bills now head to the Senate for consideration.
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