HB289 • 2026

Vital statistics; date of disposition on death certificates prohibited

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Allbright
Last action: 2026-03-31
Official status: Enacted
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the prohibition applies specifically to 'state-administered' certificates but does not define if local or private funeral home records are exempt beyond that distinction.

HB289: Prohibiting Disposition Dates on State Death Certificates

This law changes Alabama rules to stop state-administered death certificates from showing the date a body was buried or cremated.

What This Bill Does

Amends Section 22-9A-6 of the Code of Alabama 1975 regarding vital statistics.
Prohibits state-administered death certificates from including a disposition date.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Registrar who prescribes certificate formats in Alabama.
Agencies that issue state-administered death certificates in Alabama.

Terms To Know

Disposition date: The day a body is buried, cremated, or otherwise handled after death.
State-administered death certificate: An official record of death created and issued by the state government under this chapter.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to certificates administered by the state, not private records.
It does not change what information is required on birth or marriage certificates beyond confirming existing rules for those documents remain in place.

Bill History

2026-03-31 House
Enacted
2026-03-19 Senate
Signature Requested
2026-03-19 House
Delivered to Governor
2026-03-19 House
Enrolled
2026-03-19 House
Ready to Enroll
2026-03-17 Senate
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 930 (Yeas 26, Nays 0)
2026-03-17 Senate
Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 25, Nays 0)
2026-02-12 Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-02-11 Senate
Reported Out of Committee Second House
2026-02-05 House
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 280 (Yeas 102, Nays 0)
2026-02-05 House
Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 98, Nays 0)
2026-02-05 Senate
Pending Committee Action in Second House
2026-02-05 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Healthcare
2026-02-05 House
Givan intended to vote "Yea"
2026-01-29 House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-01-28 House
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-01-20 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-20 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Health

Official Summary Text

This act amends Section 22-9A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit state-administered death certificates from including a disposition date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB289 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB289
V7IJBLP-2
By Representatives Allbright, Brown, Sorrells, Smith, Rehm,
Lee
RFD: Health
First Read: 20-Jan-26
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HB289 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 20-Jan-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to vital statistics; to amend Section 22-9A-6,
Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit the inclusion of the date of
disposition on state-administered death certificates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 22-9A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§22-9A-6
(a)(1) The board shall by rule determine , by rule, the
items or information to be contained on certificates of birth,
death, marriage, and divorce and on reports of fetal death and
induced termination of pregnancy. Each certificate, report,
and other document required by this chapter shall be in a
format prescribed by the State Registrar.
(2) Certificates of death may not include a date of
disposition.
(b) Information required in certificates or reports
authorized by this chapter may be filed and registered by
photographic, electronic, or other means as prescribed by the
State Registrar."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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HB289 Enrolled
Page 2
1, 2026.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 05-Feb-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 17-Mar-26 Passed
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