WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 5714

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VITAL RECORDS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karen Alzate and 9 co-sponsors

Allows 18+ individuals to modify the race description on their birth certificate via DOH rules, using culturally sensitive terminology.

06/30/2025 Signed by Governor
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5714

Summary of HB 5714 (Sub A) — Vital Records

Date of Status: Signed by Governor, June 30, 2025

Source: Rhode Island General Assembly, 2025 session

Purpose and intent

HB 5714, Sub A adds a new provision to Rhode Island’s Vital Records laws to allow individuals aged 18 and older to request modifications to how their race is described on their birth certificate. The bill aims to use culturally sensitive language and terminology in the description of race and to provide a process for making such changes through the state Office of Vital Records, with the Department of Health empowered to develop rules and a workable process to accommodate these requests.

Key provisions

  • New provision: 23-3-10.3, Certificate of birth — Modification.
  • Eligibility: Any person 18 years of age or older.
  • Request and process: The birth certificate’s race description can be modified or amended upon request, submitted through the state office of vital records.
  • Standards for description: Changes must use culturally sensitive language and terminology to identify, modify, and/or amend the race descriptor.
  • Implementation: The Department of Health may promulgate rules and regulations and/or develop a process to accommodate all reasonable requests in a manner that uses culturally sensitive language and terminology.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Individual: Rhode Island residents who are 18+ and wish to modify how their race is described on their birth certificate.
  • State agencies: Department of Health and the state Office of Vital Records, which would implement and administer the new process.
  • Data/system impacts: Potential updates to vital records handling, data categorization, and any downstream systems or reporting that rely on birth certificate race descriptors.

Implementation and process

  • The Department of Health is given authority to promulgate rules/regulations and to establish a process to handle “all reasonable requests” for modification.
  • The emphasis is on using culturally sensitive language, suggesting flexibility in how race descriptors are defined and described moving forward.

Timeline and legislative history

  • Introduced: January 21, 2025 (with Sub A introduction noted later).
  • Referred to: House State Government & Elections; later actions moved through Senate and House.
  • Key actions:
    • May 9–13, 2025: House consideration; Sub A passed.
    • May 23, 2025: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services.
    • June 18–21, 2025: Senate concurrence action and passage of Sub A.
    • June 25–30, 2025: Transmitted to Governor; signed on June 30, 2025.
  • Effective date: Upon passage (immediately after signature).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Accessibility and equity: Provides a mechanism for individuals to ensure their birth certificates reflect language they deem accurate and respectful.
  • Data and records: May necessitate updates to vital records databases, with potential implications for demographic data collection, reporting, and cross-referencing with other documents.
  • Administrative workload: The DOH will need to establish policies, processing timelines, and verification standards to handle requests consistently.
  • Specifics of categories: The act does not prescribe exact race categories or terminology, leaving implementation details to DOH rulemaking.

This bill focuses on a sensitive, self-identified descriptor and seeks to balance personal identification with administrative feasibility through a flexible, rules-based process.

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

Sign in to ask a question.