In Good Standing Adoption Agencies Act of 2026

This bill, titled the "In Good Standing Adoption Agencies Act of 2026," mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain a national, publicly available list of licensed private child placement agencies. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and oversight within the adoption sector. Under the bill, each state with an approved plan must annually submit to the Secretary a list of private child placement agencies that are licensed or accredited, in good standing, and tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Secretary, through the United States Children's Bureau, will then compile these state submissions into a comprehensive national list. Furthermore, the Secretary is required to submit annual reports to Congress, detailing the national list, identifying any licensed agencies not included, and specifying disciplinary actions taken by states against private child placement agencies. To ensure compliance, states that fail to submit the required lists will lose their eligibility for federal Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payments .