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HB 2781

Relating to Federal Home Loan Banks; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session

Illinois death certificates must include cemetery name within 7 days of disposition; nursing/hospice/hospital admins create electronic death registration file; electronic signature

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2781

Summary — HB 2781 (Vital Records Act — Death Certificates)

Status: Introduced (IL House) 02/06/2025; House amendment filed 03/05/2025; committee action and amendment adopted 03/20/2025; placed on calendars and read multiple times; Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee 04/11/2025.

Note: The source packet included an unrelated Arizona landlord/tenant excerpt; the summary below addresses the Illinois Vital Records changes that are titled "VITAL RECORDS‑DEATH CERT."

Purpose

Amend the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) to clarify and update information required on death‑certificate forms and to shift certain operational responsibilities for creating and filing death registration records — including permitting electronic signatures and specifying timing and duties related to burial/cremation information.

Key provisions

Changes are made to Sections 11 and 18 of the Vital Records Act:

  • Timing and communication of burial/cremation decision (Section 11(e))

    • The authorized person’s decision regarding burial or cremation must be properly communicated to relevant persons within 7 days after a death.

  • Cemetery information on the death certificate (Section 11(e))

    • The funeral director must indicate the name of the cemetery on the death certificate. (House Amendment 001 changes original language from “within 7 days before burial” to “within 7 days after disposition.”)

  • Electronic death registration responsibilities (Section 18)

    • The administrator of the nursing home, hospital, or hospice facility where the death occurred is made responsible for creating the death registration file in the State’s electronic reporting system (referenced as the system under Section 18.5).
    • The funeral director remains responsible for filing a completed death certificate and for obtaining personal data from next of kin or best available sources.

  • Signatures and timing of medical certification (Section 18)

    • Signatures on certificates may be electronic.
    • Medical certification of cause of death must generally be completed and signed within 48 hours after death by the certifying health care professional who treated the deceased within the prior 12 months (except when coroner/medical examiner investigation applies). Coroner/medical examiner timeframes and responsibilities are preserved for deaths without medical attendance or under investigation.

  • Other technical/form changes

    • Continued collection and placement of social security numbers, place of disposition details (lot, block, section, plot/niche, depth), and optional military service details on death certificates remain addressed.

Who is affected

  • Nursing home, hospital, and hospice administrators (new responsibility to create the electronic death registration file).
  • Funeral directors (must provide cemetery name on death certificate within 7 days after disposition and file completed death certificates).
  • Certifying health care professionals and coroners/medical examiners (timing and format of medical certification; acceptance of electronic signatures).
  • Next of kin and informants (must communicate burial/cremation decisions and supply information).
  • Vital records offices and public health agencies (implementation of electronic registration practices; data quality impacts).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Clarifies and shortens timeframes for communication and reporting, which may improve timeliness of records and public health data.
  • Shifts an operational duty (creating the electronic registration file) onto facility administrators, which may require training, access to the electronic system, and process changes.
  • Allowing electronic signatures modernizes workflows but may require IT/security safeguards and policy updates.
  • The change in the House amendment (cemetery name required within 7 days after disposition) affects funeral director timing obligations and reduces ambiguity about pre‑burial deadlines.
  • Funeral homes, health care facilities, and registrars should review procedures to ensure compliance and accurate, timely electronic submissions.

Legislative timeline (selected)

  • Introduced in Illinois House: 02/06/2025
  • House Amendment No. 1 filed: 03/05/2025 (later adopted 03/20/2025)
  • Committee action — Do Pass as Amended: 03/20/2025
  • Re‑referred to Rules Committee / Rule 19(a): 04/11/2025

If you want, I can produce a redline showing the exact text changes between current law and the bill, or a one‑page checklist for hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, and funeral directors to prepare for compliance.

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

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