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Georgia House passes sweeping changes to adoption code
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Rep. Bert Reeves, R - Marietta, is congratulated after the passage of HB-159, concerning adoption, in the house. Georgia lawmakers voted Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, on a compromise over a major overhaul to make adoptions easier in the state. The deal will settle a long-running dispute among legislators over how to improve the state’s outdated adoption laws, which hinder the creation of new families. Gov. Nathan Deal and legislative leaders say adoption is a priority for this session. - photo by Associated Press
ATLANTA — The Georgia House on Thursday unanimously passed a sweeping revamp to the state’s adoption code, seeking to revive an ambitious overhaul that stalled last year when a controversial “religious freedom” clause was added by the Senate. That amendment, since scuttled, would have allowed adoption agencies to cite their religious beliefs and refuse to give children to LGBT couples.