ADOPT Act of 2025
Rep. Aderholt Introduces the ADOPT Act to Criminalize Unlicensed Adoption Services
The ADOPT Act of 2025 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently introduced and sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time, and the bill is still waiting to be discussed by the committee.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would make it a federal crime for unlicensed individuals or organizations to act as middlemen in private interstate adoptions. Only licensed agencies, government offices, licensed attorneys, and accredited intercountry adoption providers would be allowed to provide adoption intermediary services.
From policy text
“Whoever, in any circumstance described in subsection (e), knowingly provides adoption intermediary services shall be punished as provided in accordance with subsection (f).”
View in full text - Posting adoption advertisements would also become a crime unless done by a licensed agency, a contracted nonprofit, a licensed attorney, or an accredited intercountry adoption provider. This covers ads in newspapers, on the internet, on billboards, on radio or TV, and in any other public media.
From policy text
“The term `adoption advertising' means a paid advertisement, article, notice, or other paid communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or on the internet, on a billboard, over radio or television, or any public media”
View in full text - The bill bans payments over $2,500 to or on behalf of a birth parent in connection with an adoption unless the birth parent has first consulted with a licensed agency or attorney. This is designed to prevent financial coercion of vulnerable parents considering placing a child for adoption.
From policy text
“knowingly provides any thing of value, including money, property, or services (including medical or hospital care), whether payment is made directly or indirectly for the benefit of the placing parent in connection with the birth of a child and in furtherance of an adoption in an amount exceeding $2,500, before the consultation of a placing parent with a private licensed child-placing agency or attorney licensed in the State where the placing parent resides or is located”
View in full text - Penalties are steep: individuals face fines of $50,000 and up to 5 years in prison per violation, while organizations face fines of $100,000 per violation. The law would take effect 120 days after being signed.
- The bill explicitly preserves the Indian Child Welfare Act, intercountry adoption programs, and the right of states and local governments to pass even stricter rules on adoption practices.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
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Rep. Robert Aderholt introduces ADOPT Act
Representative Robert Aderholt introduced the Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency (ADOPT) Act to protect families from unlicensed intermediaries. The bill requires adoption providers to be licensed in the states where they operate to prevent the 'commodification of children.'
ADOPT Act would stop baby brokers
The bipartisan ADOPT Act aims to fight exploitation by unlicensed adoption intermediaries, often called 'baby brokers.' The bill would limit adoption professionals to running paid advertisements only in states where they hold a license and ensure payments to birth mothers are properly regulated.
Aderholt, Britt push bill to improve adoption oversight
Sen. Katie Britt and Rep. Robert Aderholt introduced legislation to prohibit unlicensed adoption advertising and restrict payments to expectant mothers unless made through a licensed provider. The bill is intended to protect families from predatory intermediaries during the adoption process.
Related Bills
1 billSource Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
ADOPT Act of 2025
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