AB-585 • 2026

Electronic death registration system.

Healthcare Technology

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Patterson
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on implementation timelines or exact technological specifications beyond mentioning 'updated technology'.

Electronic Death Registration System

This law updates the existing electronic death registration system by incorporating modern technology and expanding access to certain medical professionals and local registrars.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Registrar to use updated technology, including computer and mobile telephone applications, to upgrade the electronic death registration system.
Specifies that physicians, medical examiners, and local registrars can access the electronic death registration system.

Who It Names or Affects

People responsible for registering deaths
Doctors and medical examiners involved in death cases
Local registrars managing birth and death records

Terms To Know

State Registrar: The person who oversees the statewide system for recording births, marriages, divorces, and deaths.
Certificate of Death: A legal document that records important information about a death.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify when the updated technology must be implemented.
The bill does not change who is responsible for completing the certificate of death, only who can access the electronic system.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-21 California Legislative Information
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)
2025-05-21 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-27 California Legislative Information
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2025-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 585, as introduced, Patterson.
Electronic death registration system.
Existing law requires that each death be registered with the local registrar of births and deaths in the district in which the death was officially pronounced or the body was found. Existing law designates persons responsible for completing a certificate of death and the required contents of the certificate.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to implement an internet-based electronic death registration system for the creation, storage, and transfer of death registration information. Existing law authorizes the State Registrar to incorporate computer or telephone facsimile technology, or both, in the statewide program of death registration.
This bill would require the State Registrar to use updated technology, including computer and mobile telephone applications, to upgrade the
system. The bill would also require that specified individuals, including a physician, medical examiner, and local registrar, have the ability to access the electronic death registration system in addition to the individuals currently responsible for completing a certificate of death.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF