California SB381: Vital records: adoptees’ birth certificates.

What the bill says

An act to amend Section 1798.24 of the Civil Code, and to amend Sections 102645 and 102685 of, to amend, repeal, and add Section 102705 of, to add Sections 102620 and 102706 to, and to repeal Section 102675 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to vital records. vital records Vital records: adoptees’ birth certificates…

From the committee substitute text, May 21, 2026:

An act to amend Section 1798.24 of the Civil Code, and to amend Sections 102645 and 102685 of, to amend, repeal, and add Section 102705 of, to add Sections 102620 and 102706 to, and to repeal Section 102675 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to vital records. vital records Vital records: adoptees’ birth certificates. Existing law prohibits an agency from disclosing personal information that would link the information to the individual unless, among other things, the information is provided to a governmental entity by law, or the disclosure is to the individual to whom the information pertains. Existing law makes vital records related to adoptions, other than a newly issued birth certificate, available only upon the order of the superior court of the county of residence of the adopted child or of the county granting the order of adoption. This bill would authorize, beginning on July 1, 2028, the disclosure of an original birth certificate, as defined, to an adopted person, or descendant, as defined, of a deceased adopted person, would require the State Registrar to provide a copy of the original birth certificate to those persons, and would establish a process to request an original birth certificate, as specified. The bill would also require the State Registrar to create and make available to a birth parent a contact …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Aisha Wahab (D) · primary sponsor
• Liz Ortega (D, AD20)
• Suzette Martinez Valladares (R, SD23)
• Bob Archuleta (D, SD30)
• Angelique Ashby (D, SD08)
• Catherine Blakespear (D, SD38)
• Sabrina Cervantes (D, SD31)
• Steven Choi (R, SD37)
• Dave Cortese (D, SD15)
• Mike McGuire (D, SD02)
• Jerry McNerney (D, SD05)
• Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R, SD19)

Latest actions

1. August 13, 2026: August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. August 5, 2026: August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
3. July 1, 2026: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 25, 2026: Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
5. June 23, 2026: June 23 hearing postponed by committee.
6. June 11, 2026: June 16 hearing postponed by committee.
7. May 21, 2026: From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
8. May 4, 2026: Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
9. January 27, 2026: In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
10. January 27, 2026: Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 3299.) Ordered to the Assembly.

Votes

• Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] (June 30, 2026): 11 yea, 1 nay, passed
• Senate 3rd Reading SB381 Wahab et al. (January 27, 2026): 35 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended (January 22, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Placed on suspense file (January 20, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] (January 14, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Health] (January 13, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB381?

SB381 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Vital records: adoptees’ birth certificates.

What does SB381 do?

In its own words: An act to amend Section 1798.24 of the Civil Code, and to amend Sections 102645 and 102685 of, to amend, repeal, and add Section 102705 of, to add Sections 102620 and 102706 to, and to repeal Section 102675 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to vital records. vital records Vital records: adoptees’ birth certificates…

What is the status of SB381?

In committee as of August 13, 2026. Latest action: August 13 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. (August 13, 2026).

Who sponsored SB381?

Aisha Wahab (D), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB381?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB381