WashingtonHB 11572025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Authorizing access to certifications of birth and death to additional family members.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Birth certificates: access and options

The person named on the birth record can get a certified copy. So can close family, a legal guardian, legal or authorized reps, and government agencies or courts for official work. Heirloom birth certificates are available and show the state seal and governor’s signature. Late-registered births are marked “delayed” and list the evidence or court order number. Adopted people get certificates that do not mention the adoption. With every birth certificate, the registrar includes a notice on how and why to place a credit security freeze.

Death records and short-form copies

Certified death records go to close family, certain legal reps, and next of kin. A funeral director, licensed funeral home, or a person with the right to control remains named on the record can get copies within 12 months. Agencies and courts can get them for official work. A short-form death certificate omits cause and manner of death. It can also go to title insurers or their agents in real estate deals, and to others who show the copy is needed to confirm the death or protect a legal or property right.

Privacy for confidential birth details

Birth and fetal death certificates do not include information from the confidential section. You, as the person named on the birth record, can get your own confidential details after identity checks set by the state board of health and the department. Parents’ confidential information is not released. Anyone else needs a court order.

Stillbirth and fetal death records

Registrars can issue fetal death information as a fetal death certificate, a stillbirth birth certificate, or both. Certified fetal death records go only to a parent, the parent’s legal or authorized rep, siblings, or grandparents. The named funeral director or funeral home can get copies within 12 months, and agencies or courts can get them for official work. A stillbirth certificate can be issued only to the person who gave birth and must say it is not proof of live birth or an ID. These stillbirth rules do not create new rights or lawsuits and do not change reproductive rights.

Apply and pay for marriage records

To get a certification of marriage, divorce, or domestic partnership held by the department, you must apply and pay the fee set in RCW 70.58A.560.

How to get certified vital records

A certified copy counts as the official record. The registrar issues certificates from the state system with security features and the registration date. You must apply, show ID, prove you qualify, and pay the fee set in RCW 70.58A.560. The registrar reviews and may verify your documents. If no record matches, you get a notice that no match was found. A birth certificate may be marked “deceased” when the birth and death records match.

Public informational copies with a fee

Anyone can request an informational copy from the central system. These copies follow content limits set by rule. Informational death copies do not show cause or manner of death. You must apply and pay the fee set in RCW 70.58A.560.

Paid electronic checks for agencies

The health department provides electronic birth and death verifications to government agencies, insurers, hospitals, and other organizations for official duties. The department sets the process and charges a search fee. Any agency or court that receives certifications or informational copies must also pay the fee set in RCW 70.58A.560.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Mike Steele
Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 145 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 1/30/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

Governor signed.
4/11/2025legislature
Effective date 7/27/2025.
4/11/2025House
Chapter 37, 2025 Laws.
4/11/2025House
Delivered to Governor.
4/8/2025legislature
President signed.
4/7/2025legislature
Speaker signed.
4/4/2025legislature
Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
4/2/2025House
Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
4/2/2025House
Placed on second reading consent calendar.
3/26/2025House
Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
3/19/2025House
HLTC - Majority; do pass.
3/18/2025House
First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.
1/31/2025House
Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.
1/30/2025House
Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
1/30/2025House
Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
1/28/2025House
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
1/20/2025House
HCW - Executive action taken by committee.
1/17/2025House
HCW - Majority; do pass.
1/17/2025House
First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.
1/13/2025House
Prefiled for introduction.
1/3/2025House

Bill Text

Session Law
4/14/2025
HTML PDF
Bill as Passed Legislature
4/7/2025
HTML PDF
Original Bill
1/13/2025
HTML PDF

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