April 2025

2025. SUCH an Exciting Year Already! 

The Idaho Legislative Session just wrapped up last Friday, April 4.  This concludes their work until they reconvene in January. Here are our Session highlights. We got THREE things passed this term: 

SENATE BILL 1058 will keep 'safe haven' babies out of the foster system. Instead, they can go for adoption placement within 24 hours!  There's no shortage of hopeful adoptive couples, already vetted & approved:  each adoption agency has dozens on their list.
2/26/25 PASSED the Idaho Senate 32-3
3/14/25 PASSED the Idaho House 65-0
Indiana and Florida already made this change; with Idaho, that's 3 down, 47 to go!

SENATE BILL 1046 will bring fetal development education into Idaho schools. Now, young students will be taught about the foundations of human biology, and shown videos of a baby growing in the womb. Seeing a "fetus" at 8 or 10 weeks will leave an image in their young minds, which will give them a lifetime foundation for pushing back on current social narratives.  A picture is worth a thousand words!
PASSED the Idaho Senate 27-8 on 2/27/25
PASSED the Idaho House 63-6  on 3/18/25
North Dakota and Tennessee have already passed a similar bill; now with Idaho, that's 3 down, 47 to go! 

Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR105.  aka "The Third Option" 
This is a program we've been working on with some national adoption leaders from across the country. The idea is to develop state-level programs to:
1) increase awareness of adoption as an option for women facing unplanned pregnancy through education, training and campaigns, and
2) care for the brave women who choose adoption, then choose parents for their babies through birth mother programs, support and assistance.
These programs could be done in any State that wants to join us in this Third Option work, but right now Idaho is leading as the first state to implement it. Congratulations to the great State of Idaho, again leading the way in adoption legislation!

We at Unplanned Good are very pleased with these three passing, and appreciate your support!  We could not do this without you!!

Best Media Coverage from April 2 - Idaho Public TV, PBS 
Idaho Reports covered our bill-signing celebration, Tuesday in the Capitol. They also recorded a podcast conversation with all our bill sponsors, so that was fabulous. See the Idaho Reports feed on major podcast platforms and on their YouTube channel. 

Idaho Reports. Here's the podcast we recorded in the Capitol, as the Session was wrapping up last week:  Adoption and a Culture of Life | Unplanned Good | April 2, 2025 | Idaho Reports Podcast - YouTube   Enjoy!

Idaho Law Can Be Passed in Other States!  Here's our California Update:  

Our adoption education bill is being introduced in three other States this month!  These include New Hampshire, Oregon and California. Successful passage in one State gives other lawmakers the confidence to introduce the bill.  
Working with the California Family Council (CFC), Greg Burt & I talked with CA Assembly members about the Idaho adoption education bill. We had several who wanted to champion that bill in Sacramento(!)  Ultimately, it was split into two:

• Assembly Member Leticia Castillo carried the K-12 adoption education bill, AB329.  See CFC's newsletter on this which includes a video Rep Castillo and I made together during my very quick trip to Sacramento in December. And here's her intro video.  and here's her interview with California Family Council.
• 4/10/25 update:  I testified at the Education committee hearing yesterday, April 9 in Sacramento. We had over 25 organizations and individuals whose support for our bill was on the record, but the Committee went with the one opponent of the bill, Planned Parenthood.  Yes, the fight continues. 
• Assembly Member Dave Tangipa is carrying the college-level bill, AB1453.  It directs UC and CSU campus medical centers to include adoption info when they dispense contraception or test for STIs.  That bill comes before the Higher Ed committee on April 22, so I'll be back in Sacramento then to testify again.  

Our hope is that the next generation won't be choosing between abortion and parenting without knowing that adoption can be a good, healthy option. 

A News Article
on the Lifetime Adoptions blog talks about the adoption bills we're working on in Idaho and California.  Lifetime Mom Promotes New Bill AB-329 on Adoption Education

Our mission is spreading the word about how adoption works these days. It can be so empowering now that our standard practices in the US have changed.
If you consider the long-term effects of all three options, clearly
adoption is THE HEALTHIEST option.  Don't believe it? 
Let me know and I'll send you one of the above books, FREE of charge.