Bill > H0281

This bill proposes to amend Vermont's vital records law to allow for corrections or amendments to a death certificate to reflect the deceased person's gender identity at the time of death. Specifically, the bill authorizes the State Registrar to make such changes when requested by either a healthcare professional, medical examiner, hospital, nursing home, or certain family members including spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, grandparent, or guardian. The Department of Health is required to develop comprehensive rulemaking that establishes: a list of acceptable documentation proving gender identity (which may include information from advanced directives), standard forms and affidavits for attesting to the deceased's identity, and procedures for individuals to predesignate their gender identity. The bill's legislative intent emphasizes creating a process that carefully considers and reviews evidence, especially in cases of conflicting requests. To provide time for rule development, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving the Department of Health ample time to create the necessary administrative guidelines for implementing these gender identity death certificate amendments.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.281