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HD 1515

An Act relative to the family medical history of adopted children

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Donato and 2 co-sponsors

Requires adoptive parents receive biological family medical history information at adoption to improve adopted children's access to genetic health data for medical care.

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Bill Summary · HD 1515

Legislative bill overview

HD 1515 requires that adoptive parents receive comprehensive family medical history information from biological parents at the time of adoption, or as soon as practicable thereafter. The bill aims to ensure adopted children have access to genetic and hereditary health information necessary for medical decision-making and disease prevention throughout their lives.

Why is this important

Adopted children often lack critical family medical history needed for early detection and prevention of genetic conditions, hereditary cancers, heart disease, and mental health conditions. Healthcare providers rely on family history to assess disease risk, recommend screenings, and make treatment decisions, putting adopted individuals at a disadvantage without this information. This bill addresses a significant gap in medical care that can have serious health consequences.

Potential points of contention

  • Biological parent privacy and cooperation: Requiring biological parents to disclose medical information raises questions about privacy rights, enforcement mechanisms, and what happens when biological parents are unwilling or unavailable to provide information
  • Open vs. closed adoption records: The bill intersects with existing state policies on adoption record access and may conflict with provisions protecting biological parent anonymity in some cases
  • Implementation and cost: Clarification needed on who bears responsibility for obtaining information (adoption agencies, courts, adoptive parents) and whether resources will be allocated to track and enforce compliance

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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