All Roll Calls
Yes: 150 • No: 0
TennesseeHB 0102114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 1, Part 1, relative to adoption records.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
Adoption
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Earlier adoption access and new decision rules
Beginning July 1, 2025, specified adoption-record procedures open at age 18 instead of 21; some also allow emancipated people. Covered adults and emancipated people receive search, contact, and identifying-information notices and make decisions, or their legal representatives act. An existing exception in Tennessee Code § 36-1-135 still applies. For biological or legal relatives under 18, parents or legal representatives receive notices and decide about contact or disclosure. Other people involved must be 18 or older, or a known legal representative acts.
More adoption-record access for family members
Beginning July 1, 2025, when a consenting party has died, adopted people and specified relatives can receive identifying information. Covered relatives include parents, siblings, direct descendants, and direct ancestors, including families of other people covered by the records law. Direct descendants of covered people can also petition a court for access. The petition route includes disability cases covered by Tennessee's conservatorship definition. Permission to petition does not guarantee release.
Parents and officials gain adoption-record access
Beginning July 1, 2025, adoptive parents can access records for their adopted children under 18. The Tennessee Department can open adoption, sealed, post-adoption, adoption-assistance, and limited records to carry out its adoption-law duties. Other access rules do not limit that authority. Department representatives can get necessary information for reported abuse or neglect, related services, or reducing risk. They can also obtain records for lawsuits involving an adoptive child filed against the Department. District attorneys general can request information necessary to investigate or prosecute child abuse or neglect.
Stronger parent privacy limits adoption disclosures
Beginning July 1, 2025, special privacy rules apply when adoption records show a biological parent experienced rape or incest. Identifying information cannot be released without that parent's written consent, despite other disclosure laws, unless the parent has died. If the parent has died, the adopted person may receive the information. If a conservator manages the parent's person and property, the parent's direct descendants can petition a court for access.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
Jody Barrett
Republican • House
Mark Cochran
Republican • House
T.J. Hardaway
Democrat • House
Torrey C. Harris
Democrat • House
William Slater
Republican • House
Chris Todd
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/10/2025
FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Adopt 3/10/2025
Yes: 30 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 2/24/2025
Yes: 93 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2025
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Yes: 20 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2025
HOUSE CHILDREN AND FAMILY AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
4/4/2025Pub. Ch. 79
4/4/2025Signed by Governor.
3/28/2025Transmitted to Governor for his action.
3/20/2025HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
3/19/2025SenateSigned by H. Speaker
3/19/2025HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
3/11/2025HousePassed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0
3/10/2025SenateSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
3/10/2025SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
2/27/2025SenateEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
2/25/2025HousePassed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 2
2/24/2025HouseSponsor(s) Added.
2/24/2025HouseH. Placed on Consent Calendar for 2/24/2025
2/20/2025HousePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/20/2025
2/19/2025HouseRec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2/19/2025HousePlaced on cal. Judiciary Committee for 2/19/2025
2/12/2025HouseRec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
2/11/2025HouseSponsor(s) Added.
2/10/2025HousePlaced on s/c cal Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee for 2/11/2025
2/5/2025HouseAssigned to s/c Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee
1/28/2025HouseSponsor(s) Added.
1/28/2025HouseRef. to Judiciary Committee
1/16/2025HouseP2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees
1/15/2025HouseIntro., P1C.
1/14/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
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