California adoptees are urging lawmakers to support legislation that would give them greater access to their original birth certificates. Under current state law, birth certificates are sealed once an adoption is finalized, a practice that has been in place for more than a century. The policy was originally intended to protect the privacy and identities of birth mothers. Opponents of the proposed legislation remain concerned that releasing the records could violate those privacy protections. Supporters, however, argue that advances in DNA testing have already made it easier for adoptees to locate biological relatives. Services such as Ancestry.com and 23andMe can connect people with family members without requiring access to sealed vital records. Advocates say adoptees should have the same opportunity to learn about their biological history through official documents. Today marks the final day of California’s legislative session, but lawmakers have not yet brought the bill to the Assembly floor for a vote, leaving its future uncertain.
