HF 2042 (LSB 5571YH (2) 85)

HOUSE FILE 2042

BY  HEARTSILL

(COMPANION TO SF 2025 BY SINCLAIR)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the opening of certain adoption records.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 600.16A, subsection 4, Code 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   4.  An adopted person whose adoption became final prior to July 4, 1941, and whose adoption record was not required to be sealed at the time when the adoption record was completed, shall not be required to show good cause may file an affidavit for an order opening the adoption record under this subsection, provided that the juvenile court or court shall consider any affidavit filed under this subsection section, without being required to show good cause, if the adoption became final at least forty years prior to the filing of the affidavit.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill amends a provision regarding the opening of adoption records. The current provision allows that if an adopted person’s adoption became final prior to July 4, 1941, and the adoption record was not required to be sealed at the time when the adoption record was completed, the person is not required to show good cause for an order opening the adoption record provided the juvenile court or court considers any affidavit filed regarding the opening of the adoption record. The bill instead provides that an adopted person may file an affidavit for an order opening the adoption record, without being required to show good cause, if the adoption became final at least 40 years prior to the filing of the affidavit.