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HB 37

Death certificate; APRNs and physician assistants may sign instead of physician in certain circumstances.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Becky Currie

HB 37 would permit APRNs and PAs to sign death certificates under specified conditions, expanding healthcare workforce authority to improve vital records processing efficiency.

Died In Committee
#publichealthandhumanservices #publichealthandwelfare
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Bill Summary · HB 37

Legislative bill overview

HB 37 would allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) to sign death certificates in certain circumstances, rather than requiring a physician's signature in all cases. The bill passed the House but died in the Senate's Public Health and Welfare Committee during the 2025 session.

Why is this important

Death certificate authority directly affects healthcare workforce efficiency and access to vital records services, particularly in rural or underserved areas where physicians may be unavailable. This change could reduce delays in death certificate processing and funeral arrangements while addressing workforce shortages in medical certification roles.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of practice concerns: Medical organizations may argue that death certification requires physician-level training and accountability, especially for complex cases involving suspicious or unclear causes of death
  • Liability and legal questions: Uncertainty about whether APRNs/PAs have adequate malpractice insurance and legal standing for death determinations, and who bears responsibility for errors
  • "Certain circumstances" ambiguity: The bill's language limiting authorization to specific situations lacks detail about which cases qualify, creating implementation and enforcement challenges

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

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