SB 100: "Andee's Law"; enact

Under current Georgia law, when a child is adopted, the state seals the original birth certificate and issues a new one listing the adoptive parents. This bill adds a new provision to Georgia's vital records law (O.C.G.A. § 31-10-14) letting an adopted person who is 18 or older and was born in Georgia request and receive a copy of their original, pre-adoption birth certificate. They must pay the standard birth certificate fee, and the copy will be clearly marked as not a certified copy and not valid for legal purposes. If the adopted person has died, their parent, sibling, or descendant can request the original birth certificate instead. This right applies to applications submitted to the state registrar on or after July 1, 2025. The bill also standardizes wording throughout Georgia's vital records code, replacing the terms 'certificate of birth' and 'certificates of birth' with 'birth certificate' and 'birth certificates' in 17 separate Code sections.

• Lets any adopted person 18 or older who was born in Georgia request a copy of their original, sealed birth certificate from the state registrar.
• Requires the requester to pay the standard birth certificate fee set under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27.
• Requires the copy to be clearly labeled as not a certified copy and not usable for legal purposes.
• Allows a deceased adopted person's parent, sibling, or descendant to request that person's original birth certificate.
• Applies the new right only to applications filed on or after July 1, 2025.
• Replaces the terms 'certificate of birth' and 'certificates of birth' with 'birth certificate' and 'birth certificates' across 17 Code sections for consistent terminology.

Adults who were adopted as children in Georgia and want access to their original birth records; the deceased adoptee's parents, siblings, or descendants; the state registrar and Department of Public Health, which process these requests; and various Georgia agencies and courts referenced in the 17 Code sections with updated terminology.

Adopted Georgians who have never been able to see their original birth certificate would gain a legal path to obtain one as adults, potentially helping them learn birth parent names or medical history. Families of deceased adoptees would also gain limited access to these previously sealed records.

• Section 1 names the act 'Andee's Law.'
• Section 2 adds new subsection (h) to O.C.G.A. § 31-10-14, letting adopted adults 18 or older request a copy of their original birth certificate for a fee, marked as non-certified and not valid for legal purposes.
• Section 2 also lets a deceased adoptee's parent, sibling, or descendant request the original birth certificate.
• Section 2 limits the new right to applications submitted to the state registrar on or after July 1, 2025.
• Section 3 standardizes terminology by replacing 'certificate of birth'/'certificates of birth' with 'birth certificate'/'birth certificates' in 17 listed Code sections covering marriage licenses, paternity, vital records definitions, and related topics.
• Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-07-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 184
3. 2025-05-13Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-02House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-04-02House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-11House Second Readers (House)

• Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)Primary sponsor
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
• Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-48)
• John Albers (R, SD-56)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
• Max Burns (R, SD-23)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-3)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-19)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2025

   55 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 0 excused)

   PASSAGE: Senate Vote #196

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2025

   145 yea, 14 nay (6 not voting, 15 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #386

• adoption records
• birth certificates
• vital records
• Andee's Law
• Georgia adoption law