HB 1851 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of June 29, 1953 (P.L.304, No.66), known as the Vital Statistics Law of 1953, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in death and fetal death registration, further providing for information for certificates and for coroner referrals.

HB 1851 updates Pennsylvania's requirements for death and fetal death certificates under the 1953 Vital Statistics Law. It changes the specific information that must be recorded on these official documents, affecting hospitals, medical examiners, and vital records offices. The bill focuses on standardizing or adding details required for certification purposes. This procedural change aims to modernize record-keeping for public health data collection.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Jul 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Jul 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Sep 10, 2025 Signed Jul 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2297 → Printer's No. PN2716 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill update adds new definitions for 'midwife' and introduces a new section requiring coroner referrals in specific death cases, such as sudden, violent, or suspicious deaths. It also clarifies that immediate family members cannot sign death certificates for deceased relatives, ensuring impartiality in death registration.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include formal definitions for midwives and established mandatory referral protocols to coroners for deaths that may not have a clear natural cause or involve family members.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'midwife' to align with existing medical practice laws.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new requirement for registrars to refer certain death cases to a coroner, including sudden, violent, suspicious, or unnatural deaths.

Added a prohibition preventing coroners from signing death certificates for immediate family members.

Updated the list of medical professionals who must supply death certificate information to include midwives.

TIMELINE

Added a new section number (Section 2 3) regarding the effective date of the act.

Floor votes · Senate Jul 12, 2026 · House Mar 25, 2026

How they voted

49–1

Passed

Total votes 50

Jul 12, 2026

D Democratic23

23 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican27

26 Yea 1 Nay

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 20, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor

upper

Jul 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

upper

Jul 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Re-reported as committed

upper

Jun 25, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Appropriations

upper

Jun 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported as committed

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Dec 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Sep 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health

lower

1 primary · 20 co-sponsors