Jefferson Shreve (R-IN)
In Good Standing Adoption Agencies Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "In Good Standing Adoption Agencies Act of 2026," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to maintain a national list of licensed private child placement agencies. States with approved plans must submit a list of agencies that are licensed, accredited, in good standing, and exempt from Federal income tax by the end of each fiscal year. The Secretary, through the United States Children's Bureau, will compile this into a publicly available national list. Additionally, the Secretary must submit annual written reports to Congress regarding this list and any State disciplinary actions taken against agencies. Finally, the bill ties state eligibility for certain incentive payments to their compliance with these list submission requirements.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates a publicly available national list of licensed agencies and annual reports to Congress regarding agency standing.
- Scored +3
Would children be better off under this?
The creation of a national list of licensed agencies may improve the oversight of the adoption process for children.
- Scored +1
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill provides increased transparency for child placement agencies, which may facilitate more stable adoption processes.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Public Access to Information: The Secretary is required to maintain a "publicly available list" of private child placement agencies (Section 2(a)(2)). This provides the public with a central resource to find agencies that are licensed and in good standing with their respective States.
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Increased Oversight: The Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress that identify agencies licensed by a State but missing from the national list, as well as any disciplinary actions taken by a State against an agency (Section 2(a)(3)). This provides a level of transparency regarding agency standing and State enforcement.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Risk of Reduced Funding: States must comply with the list submission requirements to remain eligible for "Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payments" (Section 2(b)). Failure to comply with the state reporting requirements could impact a State's eligibility for these specific incentive payments.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates a publicly available national list of licensed agencies and annual reports to Congress regarding agency standing.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The creation of a national list of licensed agencies may improve the oversight of the adoption process for children.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill provides increased transparency for child placement agencies, which may facilitate more stable adoption processes.
- 2/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/23/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lloyd SmuckerRepublican · Pennsylvania