SB 466 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the definition of fetal death certificate.

SB 466 updates Texas law to clarify the definition of a "fetal death certificate" in the Health and Safety Code. It specifies that such a certificate applies to: (1) fetuses weighing 350 grams or more, or at least 20 weeks gestation (if weight is unknown), or (2) any fetus when a family member requests a certificate. This change directly affects hospitals, medical examiners, and families who experience fetal loss, ensuring consistent certification practices. The bill does not create new requirements but standardizes existing procedures for documenting fetal deaths.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2024

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 22, 2024 Last action May 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 3 edits · May 12, 2025

MINOR

This bill defines when a fetal death certificate must be filed in Texas, establishing weight and gestational age thresholds for mandatory filing and allowing family-requested certificates for any fetus. The text includes formatting and layout changes from the introduced version to the engrossed version.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on defining fetal death certificate requirements under the Health and Safety Code, with no substantive changes to the legal criteria.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'fetal death certificate' was reformatted with improved spacing and indentation while maintaining the same legal criteria: mandatory filing for fetuses weighing 350 grams or more, or 20 weeks gestation if weight is unknown, plus family-requested certificates for any fetus.

TECHNICAL

Header information was updated from 'AAPaxton' to 'Paxton, et al.' and bill numbering was changed to reflect the engrossed version (SB 466 - Engrossed version - Bill Text).

Section numbering and formatting were cleaned up, removing extraneous line numbers and improving readability while preserving the effective date provisions (immediate if 2/3 vote, otherwise September 1, 2025).

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to Public Health

lower

May 14, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

May 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors