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SB 1116

Vital Records - As enacted, requires certain records or papers for a person relating to the adoption or attempted adoption of a person in the possession of the office of the clerk of the adoption court; the offices of the department of health; the office of any child-placing agency, whether or not it is chartered or licensed; or any other information source, to be made available to the department of children's services for the purpose of searching for a kinship foster care placement. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 68.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ferrell Haile

Tennessee law now requires adoption records be shared with child welfare to locate relatives for kinship foster placements, expanding access to historically sealed information.

Pub. Ch. 393
#vitalrecords
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Bill Summary · SB 1116

Legislative bill overview

SB 1116 requires adoption records, papers, and related information held by court clerks, the Department of Health, child-placing agencies, and other sources to be made available to the Department of Children's Services (DCS) for the purpose of locating kinship foster care placements. The law amends Tennessee's vital records and child welfare statutes to facilitate this information sharing.

Why is this important

Kinship foster care—placing children with relatives when parental custody is unavailable—is generally considered beneficial for child stability and family continuity. This law aims to expand DCS's ability to identify eligible relatives quickly by accessing previously restricted adoption records, potentially increasing placement options and reducing time children spend in non-relative foster care or institutional settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Adoption records have historically been sealed to protect adoptee and biological family privacy; this law creates an exception that some privacy advocates may view as an intrusion into sensitive family information
  • Scope of access: The broad language ("any other information source") could be interpreted expansively, raising questions about what records must be disclosed and to whom within DCS
  • Consent and notification: The bill does not explicitly address whether biological relatives or adoptees must be notified that their information is being searched for kinship placement purposes

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

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