Sponsors (2)
The bill improves transparency and federal oversight of private child placement agencies to help families and policymakers, but creates compliance and reporting conditions that could reduce incentive funding, increase administrative burden for nonprofits, and cause short-term delays or reduced supports for some children and families.
State governments and the Children's Bureau will have a centralized, up‑to‑date national list of state‑licensed, 501(c)(3) private child placement agencies, improving transparency and enabling better oversight of adoption placement providers.
Parents and children will have increased public information about an agency's licensure and disciplinary status, helping families make more informed choices about adoption and placement providers.
Congress will receive annual reports identifying gaps between state‑licensed agencies and those submitted, supporting legislative oversight and targeted policy responses to address oversight gaps.
States that fail to submit the required list will lose eligibility for adoption/guardianship incentive payments, potentially reducing funds available for state adoption promotion programs.
If States miss the reporting deadline, children and families could experience delays or reduced support tied to incentive programs while administrative compliance is resolved.
Private child placement nonprofits may face increased administrative scrutiny and public exposure of disciplinary actions, which could deter some small nonprofits or complicate their operations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires annual State reports of licensed, in‑good‑standing private child placement agencies and directs HHS to publish a national list and report to Congress; ties reporting to incentive eligibility.
Official title: To provide for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to maintain a national list of licensed private child placement agencies, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 23, 2026 by Jefferson Shreve · Last progress January 23, 2026
Requires States with approved Title IV‑E plans to send the federal Children’s Bureau an annual list of private child placement agencies that are licensed or accredited, in good standing with the State, and exempt under section 501(c)(3). The Children’s Bureau must compile and publish a national list of those agencies, report annually to Congress including any State‑licensed agency missing from a State’s submission, and note disciplinary actions taken by States. States must meet the new reporting requirement to remain eligible for a specified incentive program.