BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 466 By: Paxton Health & Human Services 4/25/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT While Texas statute recognizes the sanctity of all human life beginning at conception, regardless of the baby's gestational age, when healthcare professionals interpret the statutory requirement to file a fetal death certificate for unborn babies who are at least 20 weeks gestation as prohibitive of providing a fetal death certificate for younger unborn babies, this can restrict a family's access to funeral services. Families deserve to honor and mourn their deceased child in a way that best suits the family. S.B. 466 amends the definition of "fetal death certificate" to clarify that families may request a fetal death certificate for an unborn baby of any gestational age, without altering the existing requirements for when the production of these certificates is required. As proposed, S.B. 466 amends current law relating to the definition of fetal death certificate. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 674.001(2), Health and Safety Code, to provide that "fetal death certificate" means a death certificate filed for certain fetuses, including a fetus of any weight or gestational age whose family member requests a death certificate, and to make nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 466
By: Paxton
Health & Human Services
4/25/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 466
By: Paxton
Health & Human Services
4/25/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
While Texas statute recognizes the sanctity of all human life beginning at conception, regardless of the baby's gestational age, when healthcare professionals interpret the statutory requirement to file a fetal death certificate for unborn babies who are at least 20 weeks gestation as prohibitive of providing a fetal death certificate for younger unborn babies, this can restrict a family's access to funeral services. Families deserve to honor and mourn their deceased child in a way that best suits the family.
S.B. 466 amends the definition of "fetal death certificate" to clarify that families may request a fetal death certificate for an unborn baby of any gestational age, without altering the existing requirements for when the production of these certificates is required.
As proposed, S.B. 466 amends current law relating to the definition of fetal death certificate.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 674.001(2), Health and Safety Code, to provide that "fetal death certificate" means a death certificate filed for certain fetuses, including a fetus of any weight or gestational age whose family member requests a death certificate, and to make nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.