NO FETAL DEATH CERTIFICATE
Summary
Amends the Vital Records Act. In provisions regarding fetal death, deletes provisions referencing election in writing to arrange for burial or cremation under the Hospital Licensing Act. Requires a funeral director to file an Authorization for Disposition of Fetal Remains or a certificate of death (rather than only a certificate of death) before obtaining a permit for disposition of remains. Provides that, in the case of a fetal death that occurs after a gestation period of less than 20 weeks or in the case of an abortion, no fetal death certificate shall be required for the disposition of remains. Directs the Department of Public Health to create a form to be used by the funeral director to obtain a permit for burial, entombment, or cremation. Requires the local registrar to seal any form filed under these provisions, and prohibits a funeral director from retaining a copy. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. In provisions regarding the disposition of a fetus, provides that no fetal death certificate shall be required in accordance with the Vital Records Act. Provides that the funeral director or person acting as such who first assumes custody of fetal remains shall use the Department of Public Health form to obtain a permit for disposition of remains. Makes other conforming changes.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 10, 2026
Last action Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
3 edits
·
Apr 9, 2026
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify administrative procedures for reporting fetal deaths and deaths occurring on moving vehicles. The changes ensure that written reports serve as permits for transporting or burying remains, provided a healthcare provider is contacted to sign the death certificate. Additionally, the text was cleaned up to remove redundant words and fix formatting inconsistencies in the reporting requirements.
REQUIREMENT
Clarified that a written report to the local registrar now acts as a permit to transport, bury, or entomb a body or fetus within the state, provided the funeral director certifies that a treating healthcare professional has been contacted and will sign the death certificate.
Refined the definition of the 'place of delivery' for fetal deaths occurring on moving conveyances to be the location where the fetus is first removed from the vehicle, ensuring the correct district files the certificate.
TECHNICAL
Removed redundant words (e.g., 'notification notifications') and corrected spacing errors in the text regarding the development of forms by the Department of Public Health.
Floor votes · House Apr 9, 2026
How they voted
65–31
Passed · 20 other
Total votes 116
Apr 9, 2026
D
Democratic76
85% Yea
R
Republican40
77% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
14
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Apr 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 068-031-000
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate Public Health Committee; 005-003-000
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Public Health Committee
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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