Alena's Law and Office of Vital Records Changes.
HB 537 creates a legal presumption of death for individuals missing for at least 90 days during a declared disaster (state or federal), simplifying legal processes for families. It requires the Office of Vital Records to process birth and death certificate amendment requests within 30 days of receiving complete applications. The bill also prohibits Office of Vital Records staff from teleworking unless during a declared emergency, to maintain processing timelines. These changes directly affect families of missing persons in disaster zones and individuals needing vital record corrections.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Mar 26, 2025
Signed Jul 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Ratified
→
SL 2025-44
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was formally ratified and converted into Session Law 2025-44, establishing a presumption of death for individuals missing under specific circumstances. The substantive policy content remains unchanged, with only formatting updates and official approval details added.
Scope change
No substantive scope changes; the bill's applicability and provisions remain identical to the ratified version.
TECHNICAL
Title updated from 'Ratified Bill' to 'Session Law 2025-44' to reflect official enactment status.
Added official approval timestamp (10:19 a.m., July 1, 2025) and signature notation for Governor Josh Stein.
Version number updated from H537-v-3 to H537-v-4 to reflect final legislative iteration.
Floor votes · Senate Jun 19, 2025 · House Jun 24, 2025
How they voted
43–0
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 51
Jun 19, 2025
D
Democratic20
75% Yea
R
Republican31
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
34
Key actions
10
Committee
10
Amendments
1
Jul 1, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Gov. 7/1/2025
executive
Jun 24, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (109-0-12)
house
Jun 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Concurred In S Com Sub
lower
Jun 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed 3rd Reading
upper
Jun 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reptd Fav
upper
Jun 17, 2025
Committee
Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Jun 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Com Substitute Adopted
upper
Jun 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reptd Fav Com Substitute
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Committee
Re-ref to Judiciary. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Committee
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed 3rd Reading
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Committee
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reptd Fav
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Re-ref Com On Judiciary 1
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reptd Fav
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Committee
Ref to the Com on Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced
Filed
lower
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Dudley Greene
RRepublican
Co
Bill Ward
RRepublican
Co
Blair Eddins
RRepublican
Co
Brian Echevarria
RRepublican
Co
Dean Arp
RRepublican
Co
Donna White
RRepublican
Co
Donnie Loftis
RRepublican
Co
Eric Ager
DDemocratic
Co
Jeff McNeely
RRepublican
Co
Ray Pickett
RRepublican
Co
Sarah Stevens
RRepublican
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