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S 1585

An Act expanding healthcare proxy access to medical records

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mark Montigny

S 1585 grants healthcare proxies expanded access to patients' medical records to enable more informed healthcare decision-making and advocacy.

Accompanied a study order, see S2790
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Bill Summary · S 1585

Legislative bill overview

S 1585 expands the rights of healthcare proxies (designated decision-makers) to access a patient's medical records. Currently, healthcare proxy authority is often limited to making end-of-life decisions; this bill broadens their access to medical information while the patient is living. The measure was referred to the Public Health Committee in February 2025 and had a hearing scheduled for July 2025.

Why is this important

Healthcare proxies serve as crucial advocates for patients who cannot communicate their own medical wishes, yet existing restrictions on their record access can delay critical decision-making and care coordination. Expanding proxy access could improve patient outcomes by enabling designated family members or representatives to understand treatment options and history more fully. However, this also raises privacy concerns about how broadly records should be shared beyond the patient's explicit consent.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy boundaries: Determining which records proxies can access and under what circumstances, particularly for sensitive health information the patient may not have explicitly authorized them to see
  • Proxy accountability: Establishing safeguards to prevent proxies from misusing access to medical records for purposes beyond healthcare decision-making
  • Implementation timeline: Clarifying when proxy access rights activate and whether patient capacity status affects authorization levels

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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