Our Biggest Legislative Update Yet: 2–23–23

This week, we have a massive legislative update! Additional states are considering legalizing or expanding access to Death with Dignity and many introduced bills continue to make progress. Here is what has happened:

New bills introduced:

Minnesota

• Minnesota introduced the “End-of Life Option Act” (SF 1813/HF 1930), which has been referred to the Health and Human Services Committee. This bill notably does not include a residency requirement, any waiting periods, and allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to be providers. This bill would expand access to Death with Dignity to another 5.7 million people.

Florida

• Florida introduced S864, modeled after the original Oregon law, which would legalize medical aid in dying in the state of Florida and expand access to nearly 22 million Americans.

Connecticut

• Connecticut introduced a companion bill, SB1076, to the already introduced house bills (HB6530, HB5487) which would legalize medical aid in dying in the state.

Bill Movement:

Montana

• SB210, Montana’s bill to effectively make Death with Dignity illegal, failed the third reading yesterday in the Senate, killing the bill. This is a major victory for Death with Dignity in Montana!

Oregon

• Oregon’s SB891 has been referred to the Judiciary Committee. This bill would expand accessibility to Death with Dignity, as we discussed in past updates.

Washington

• Washington’s HB1281 and HB5179 have progressed to a second reading after both clearing the Rules Committee. This bill would expand accessibility to Death with Dignity, as we discussed in past updates.

Hawai’i

• After Hawai’i’s HB650 had a hearing in the House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee on February 15, the bill was referred to the Judiciary and Hawai’i Affairs Committee. The bill would expand which practitioners can administer medical aid in dying and reduce waiting periods.

Maryland

• Maryland’s SB845 has a hearing in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on March 1. Its companion bill, HB933, has a public hearing in the Health and Government Operations Committee on March 10. This bill would legalize Death with Dignity in Maryland.

Vermont

• During Vermont’s H190 hearing on February 14, the House Committee on Human Services voted favorably with a 11–0–0 vote and recommended the bill be passed. On February 17, H190 was passed by the House and moved to the Senate where it was referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare. If passed, the bill would remove Vermont’s residency requirement.

Public Hearings:

Maryland

• HB933, the companion bill to SB210, has a public hearing in the Health and Government Operations Committee on March 10.

Connecticut

• SB1076 has a public hearing on February 27 in the Senate Public Health Committee.

Hawai’i

• SB650 has a public hearing on 2/24/2023 in the House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee.

We are excited by the huge amount of progress we have seen in the past week and expect more to come. If you haven’t yet, subscribe to our Medium page to stay up to date and get all of the latest news, as it breaks.