ADOPT Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 3285

119th Congress

ADOPT Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 1, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Amy Klobuchar

D - MN

Cosponsors

6

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary

The ADOPT Act criminalizes unlicensed adoption intermediary services and adoption advertising by individuals who are not licensed agencies, attorneys, or accredited providers. The bipartisan bill aims to protect families from exploitation and prevent child commodification in private domestic interstate adoptions while ensuring access to regulated adoption services.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The ADOPT Act criminalizes unlicensed adoption intermediary services and adoption advertising by individuals who are not licensed agencies, attorneys, or accredited providers. The bipartisan bill aims to protect families from exploitation and prevent child commodification in private domestic interstate adoptions while ensuring access to regulated adoption services.

Last updated: 12/27/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Creates federal crime for unlicensed adoption intermediary services
Criminalizes adoption advertising by unlicensed individuals
Exempts licensed agencies, attorneys, and accredited providers
Addresses unauthorized payments to or on behalf of birth parents
Bipartisan sponsors: Klobuchar, Britt, Blumenthal, Blackburn, and others
Protects families from exploitation by unregulated adoption facilitators

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Protects prospective adoptive parents and birth parents from unscrupulous unlicensed adoption facilitators who may charge high fees without accountability. Benefits children by ensuring adoptions go through regulated channels with proper oversight. Licensed adoption agencies and attorneys would continue operating normally. Unlicensed individuals currently facilitating adoptions would face federal criminal penalties.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3285, 119th Congress (2025). "ADOPT Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3285