Rep. Hogan’s bill to ensure that all adoptees born in Massachusetts can access their original birth certificate was passed in the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Baker. Before this bill was passed, any adoptee born between July 17, 1974 and Jan. 1, 2008 needed a court order to unseal the record and access their original birth certificate. This legislation erases that gap and allows adopted persons over the age of 18 to access their original birth certificate or the adopted parents of a child under 18 to access the document. This bill promotes fairness, dignity and equity and ensures that adoptees have the ability to learn about their personal and medical history, which can be critical.