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Bill

S 8757

Relates to prohibiting charges for the issuance of a certificate of still birth or fetal death

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nathalia Fernández

New York eliminates fees for stillbirth and fetal death certificates, removing financial barriers for grieving families seeking official documentation of pregnancy loss.

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Bill Summary · S 8757

Legislative bill overview

S 8757 prohibits New York State from charging fees for issuing certificates of stillbirth or fetal death. Previously, families had to pay administrative fees to obtain these vital records documents. The bill was signed into law in February 2026, making these certificates available at no cost to bereaved families.

Why is this important

Stillbirth and fetal loss certificates serve important legal, emotional, and practical purposes—enabling families to memorialize pregnancies, access grief counseling, arrange proper disposition of remains, and establish legal documentation. Eliminating fees removes a financial barrier during an already traumatic time and acknowledges these losses as significant life events worthy of official recognition without adding economic hardship.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative cost burden: State agencies must absorb costs previously recovered through fees, raising questions about budget allocation and whether other services might be affected
  • Scope definition: Debate over what gestational ages qualify (some states have different thresholds), and whether the definition in this bill aligns with medical and legal standards
  • Precedent concerns: May prompt similar requests to eliminate fees for other vital records or government services, with implications for state revenue and service sustainability

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

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