Our team has been working on the ground to educate new legislators on how the End of Life Option Act is working as intended. We worked closely with Senator Catherine Blakespear to introduce SB 403 which seeks to remove the sunset in the law. Joined by advocates, our team has done lobby visits and organized participation in the hearings. On April 24, 2025, SB 403 passed out of Senate Health Committee by a vote of 9-2. On April 29, 2025, SB 403 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 10-1. We will continue to work on removing the sunset so Californians can be secure in their ability to access the law in the future.
For the second time in less than one year, the Delaware General Assembly passed the Ron Silverio/Heather Block Delaware End-of-Life Options Act after the Senate approved the bill on April 17. At the time of publishing, Team Delaware awaits HB 140’s official remittance to Governor Matt Meyer, who committed to signing the bill into law following its September veto, stating, “I stand with those who support medical autonomy and the right to die with dignity and, if elected, will make this law.” In a statement to WBOC-TV on April 18, his office confirmed he will sign it once received.
Our Florida team continues to build momentum on the ground thanks to volunteers and strong partnerships. This year, as a result of the advocacy of the Florida Death with Dignity group, the End-of-Life Options Act was introduced in the state legislature — a powerful step forward in expanding compassionate end-of-life care. Volunteers have been giving presentations in their local communities, sparking conversations around end-of-life planning. The team also participated in the American Society on Aging conference in Orlando, where they connected with local nonprofits and professionals in end-of-life care. They remain committed to growing this movement statewide.
Years of laying the groundwork in Illinois paid off this spring with the introduction in January of the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act followed by the first-ever Senate Executive Committee hearing on medical aid in dying, which was attended by over 70 advocates. In April, an amendment was filed in the Senate which officially changed the bill’s short name to “Deb’s Law” in honor of C&C LGBTQ+ Leadership Council member Deb Robertson. Working closely with coalition partners including ACLU of Illinois, the team has picked up 19 co-sponsors and is building momentum in the Senate and Hou
Advocates for the Honorable Elijah E. Cummings and the Honorable Shane E. Pendergrass End-of-Life Option Act testified before the Health and Government Operations Committee on March 3. The following day, more than 80 advocates attended a press conference in Annapolis and participated in 37 meetings in Senate offices. The bill secured enough votes to pass out of committee but was four votes short on the Senate floor, so the Senate president chose not to advance the bill. The next opportunity to reintroduce the bill will be 2027. Meanwhile, the Maryland team will launch a statewide education and outreach campaign to continue building momentum.
Companion bills have been filed in both the Senate and House. The bills were assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Health. Recently an art display of seven photos of advocates was displayed at the State House. The pieces included each advocate’s dying wish, highlighting who they are at their core — everyday people who want the option of medical aid in dying. In March, we hosted a press conference and mini lobby day at the State House to announce the filing of the bills and to call for action. Following the event, a group of advocates delivered informational materials to all legislative offices, urging the passage of the bill this session. It must have worked, because the Committee held a public hearing April 2. This is the earliest the committee has ever scheduled the bill. The team is focused on adding official bill sponsors and raising the profile of the bill in the State House and in the public eye.
On April 1, the Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act (HF 2998) was officially reintroduced for 2025. Just two days later, Gina Schneider, Minnesota campaign and advocacy manager for Compassion & Choices Action Network, joined chief bill sponsor and author Rep. Mike Freiberg in a press conference alongside advocates Tom Albin, a Minnesotan living with ALS who wants the option of medical aid in dying, and Becki Sinks, a Minnesotan who tragically lost her husband to suicide during his terminal illness. Together, they made a powerful case for passing the bill in 2025, emphasizing the urgent need for compassionate end-of-life care in the state.
On April 9, Compassion & Choices Action Network defeated SB 136, a bill to criminalize Montana physicians who prescribe medical aid in dying to their terminally ill patients, in a bipartisan House floor vote of 43 to 57. Team Montana organized a formidable group of advocates in defense of end-of-life rights in the state, including people with terminal illnesses, caretakers, legislators, attorneys, faith leaders and a robust coalition of the state’s medical community. Additionally, ACLU of Montana, Big Sky 55+, Bozeman Health, Hestia Advantage and Montana Hospital Association all testified against SB 136 in committee hearings in the House and Senate.
For the first time in history, the NYS Assembly passed the New York Medical Aid in Dying Act (A136/S138) by a 81-67 vote. The bill moved swiftly through three committees with large margins of support on its way to the floor. Compassion & Choices’ campaign of over ten years, with a dramatic increase in resources this year, now squarely focuses on the Senate. More volunteers have consistently shown up to make calls, send messages and walk the halls of the Capitol, including our biggest lobby day to date on May 6, making for a powerful message to lawmakers. In March, the New York State Psychiatric Association (NYSPA) approved a resolution supporting New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act.
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