Here are suggested emails and contact details for making your voice heard during the week of March 1, 2021. Obviously, you can edit and add your own language and any additional personal reasons for support or opposition.
Jump to Arizona | Iowa | Idaho (not active) | Rhode Island (inactive) | Tennessee | Last updated March 3, 2021
ARIZONA: OPPOSE HB2070
Arizona’s HB2070 is a bill that creates donuts, with adopted people born between 1968 and 2021 inside that donut and in an empty hole— i.e., they get nothing. The bill is set for hearing on Wednesday in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Senator Nancy Barto. The House last year passed an unrestricted bill with no donut hole restrictions. Not so this year. Email/Tweet committee members to request DO NOT PASS (feel free to include the image above in Tweets). UPDATE: The Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously voted to recommend passage of HB2070. This action alert is no longer active.
Emails
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Twitter
@NancyBarto
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@TJShopeforAZ
Suggested Message:
Dear Chairman Zaun and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:
I write in strong opposition to SSB1040, which is a bill that, for the first time in the history of Iowa, creates new rights for birthparents to alter an adopted person’s birth certificate by eliminating information from this vital record. Such an approach is outdated, discriminates against adult adopted people, and does not reflect best practices in adoption. Moreover, the intent of the bill to “protect” birthparents will only ensure that the identities of all parties in an adoption will be made more public and widespread, whether on social media, through private investigators, or through inexpensive DNA registry matches. The approach of SSB1040 is backwards-looking and does not represent equality for adult adopted people. I ask that you recommend DO NOT PASS on SSB1040. The bill does not have the support of the adoptee community specifically nor do they have the support of the broader adoption community.
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (copy/paste to email)
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TENNESSEE: SUPPORT HB62/SB723
UPDATE: The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to recommend passage of SB723, and it also passed the full Senate by unanimous consent. The following suggested message and email list has been modified to relate solely to HB62, the companion bill in the Tennessee House that will be heard in full committee on March 3.
Suggested Message:
Dear Chairman Carter and Members of the Civil Justice Committee:
I write in support of HB62, which will eliminate an unnecessary and discriminatory “contact veto” in Tennessee law, specifically in relation to the parties in an adoption. The contact veto has long been considered unconstitutional and unenforceable, as it separates out adopted people and criminalizes behavior that is considered normal in circumstances outside of adoption. Moreover, current laws in the state can adequately deal with situations where a person may not wish unwelcome contact. Those laws, to the extent they are needed, can protect Tennesseans and in a fair and equal manner for all people. I ask that you vote DO PASS on HB62 in subcommittee and when it comes before the full committee.
Members of the House Civil Justice Committee (copy/paste to email):
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Prior Actions (Not Currently Active)
IDAHO: OPPOSE HB59
Suggested Message:
Dear Chair Chaney, Vice Chair Hartgen, and Members of the Committee:
I write in opposition to HB59, a bill that would only apply prospectively to adult adopted people who request their own original vital record, one that is factually accurate and provides information about a person’s own birth. I ask that you amend the bill to provide for retroactive application so that it applies to all adoptees in Idaho, who deserve to be treated equally when requesting their own birth records. If it is not amended I ask that you recommend DO NOT PASS so that we can redraft the legislation and get it right in the next session.
Members of the Judiciary, Rules & Administration (copy/paste to email)
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RHODE ISLAND: SUPPORT SB250
Suggested Message:
Dear Chair Coyne, Vice Chair Archambault, and Members of the Judiciary Committee:
I write in strong support of S250, which will make long-needed changes to Rhode Island law, including the lowering of the age an adopted person may request and obtain an original birth certificate, from 25 to 18. This is a simple and positive change, reflects inclusivity, and will establish full equality for all adopted people in the state. I ask that you recommend DO PASS on S250.
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (copy/paste to email)
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