From promising committee action to renewed attempts to roll back existing laws, the medical-aid-in-dying landscape is shifting quickly. Here’s the latest update on bills you should know about and what’s at stake in the weeks ahead.

New Medical Aid in Dying Bills in Committee
  • The Iowa Our Care, Our Options Act (HF2262) was introduced and referred to the Health and Human Services Committee. Lawmakers in the Hawkeye State have introduced Death with Dignity legislation consistently for the past five years, and we’re hopeful that this session will build on that momentum and move the bill forward.
Hearings for Aid in Dying Bills
  • Virginia’s SB359, which would legalize medical aid in dying, received two hearings. The first took place on February 4 in the Senate Education and Health Committee’s Health Subcommittee. The bill advanced out of the subcommittee on a 3–2 vote and was then referred to the full Senate Education and Health Committee.

SB359 ultimately failed to advance out of the full committee, with a 7–8 vote. We are continuing to closely monitor the companion bill, HB886, which remains under consideration in the House Committee on Courts of Justice.

Death with Dignity Opposition Bill
  • New Jersey Assemblymember Auth introduced A529, an amendment that would repeal New Jersey’s medical aid in dying law entirely. That bill has been referred to the Assembly Health Committee.

A528, a bill that would significantly increase criminal penalties related to the Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act, was also introduced by Assemblymember Auth. The legislation would make it a first-degree crime—punishable by a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison without parole—to forge or alter a patient’s request for aid-in-dying medication or to coerce a patient into requesting it, if done with the intent or effect of causing the patient’s death. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

This is not the first time Assemblymember Auth has attempted to dismantle New Jersey’s Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act. For multiple sessions in a row, he has introduced repeal legislation, and each year, advocates like you have successfully fought back. While his efforts have failed before, we must remain vigilant. 

Make sure you join the movement to get the latest updates on how you can take action to help pass and protect Death with Dignity legislation.

Don’t see your state listed? Find out the status of your state and learn how you can advocate for medical aid in dying where you live.

We’ll continue to provide updates on legislative developments and breaking news about the movement. Things can change quickly, so make sure you’re following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Bluesky, and sign up for our email alerts here.