This bill requires states to submit annual lists of licensed private adoption agencies that are in good standing with their state regulators and qualify as tax-exempt nonprofits. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would compile these state submissions into a single national list that would be made publicly available through the United States Children's Bureau, allowing families and the public to access information about approved adoption agencies. The bill also requires the federal government to publish annual reports to Congress that identify any licensed agencies not appearing on the national list and detail any disciplinary actions states have taken against private adoption agencies. States that fail to submit their lists of qualified adoption agencies by January 1st each year would lose eligibility for federal adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments. The legislation was introduced in September 2023 with no specific new funding mechanism mentioned, relying instead on existing federal child welfare funding structures.
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