Dear Friends,

The assisted suicide lobby has not stopped and neither have we! Your advocacy in the 2025 session has been unmatched and I know we're just getting started. There are currently 12 states with active legislation and 5 states with proposed expansions. If you live in one of the states below, click the link to quickly and easily send a message to your legislator telling them to reject the dangerous bills being considered. And don't miss the good news at the end!  

State Status Update
Bills to Legalize Assisted Suicide: 

1. Delaware: HB 140
   • Unfortunately passed the House committee by a single vote on January 29th. No schedule yet for a hearing on the floor.
2. New York: A.136/S.138
3. New Hampshire: HB 254
   • The New Hampshire committee voted "ought to pass" on March 3rd. No schedule yet for a hearing on the floor. 
4. Illinois: SB 9/HB1238
   • A public hearing was held in Chicago and so many of our wonderful Illinois advocates turned out to voice opposition! Thank you to all of you! There were hearings scheduled for today, March 5th, in both the House and Senate committee and both were cancelled at the last minute.
5. Maryland: SB 926/ HB 1328
   • The House held a hearing on Monday, March 3rd with tremendous testimony from opponents. A similar hearing was scheduled for the Senate originally for March 5th but has been rescheduled for March 11th. 
6. Massachusetts: SD.1665/HD.2540
7. Missouri: HB 453
8. Indiana : HB 1011
9. Nevada: AB 346
10. Rhode Island: H. 5219/ S. 151
    • A House committee hearing was held on February 11th with a procedural vote to set aside for further study.
11. Florida: HB 471
12. Kentucky: HB 408

Bills to Expand Assisted Suicide

1. Vermont: H.75 - expanding current law by allowing "clinicians" and not just physicians to prescribe lethal drugs. This would include nurse practitioners and physician's assistants.

2. Oregon: SB 1003 - expands who can provide to PAs and Nurse Practitioners, removes language requiring the consulting provider to ensure the patient has capability and is acting voluntarily, and reduces waiting period from 15 days to 48 hours. A public hearing was held on Monday, March 4th. 

3. California: SB 403 - currently no language, though we anticipate a similar push as last year. 

4. Maine: LD 613 This bill allows an attending physician to waive a portion or all of a waiting period for qualified patients to access end-of-life medication based on the qualified patient's condition and the attending physician's medical opinion regarding the “best interests of the qualified patient.” 
5. New Jersey: A 1880/3588 removes the 15 day waiting period for some patients. Carryover form 2024

And the good news! 

States With Bills to Prohibit or Limit Assisted Suicide

• Montana: SB 136 - Passed the Senate in February and awaiting action in the House. 

States Which Defeated Bills to Legalize Assisted Suicide in 2025

1. Arizona: HB 2243 - no action taken before deadline 
2. Connecticut: HB 5454 - deadline missed, no action
3. Montana - HB 637 hearing 2/26 in House Judiciary - committee voted to table the bill. 
4. Tennessee - HB 598/ SB 640 public hearing held on March 4th, and the committee voted to reject assisted suicide! 

States Which Defeated Bills to Expand Assisted Suicide in 2025

• Washington - HB 1876 - Reduce waiting period. Public hearing held, 2/14. No action taken, deadline missed.

There is no shortage of opportunities to be involved and I hope you'll take them! We are working hard to educate and activate people on the ground to take action against these dangerous bills and tell legislators that assisted suicide has no place in our society. There were three public hearings held this week with more to come; your voice makes a difference! 

Thank you for your continued advocacy! 

Jessica Rodgers

Coalitions Director

Patients' Rights Action Fund