Alabama House Bill HB289

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/26
• Refer: 1/20/26
• Report Pass: 1/28/26
• Refer: 2/5/26
• Report Pass: 2/11/26
• Enrolled: 3/19/26
• Passed: 3/31/26

Caption

Vital statistics; date of disposition on death certificates prohibited

Summary

HB289 amends Alabama’s vital statistics law to prohibit state-administered death certificates from including a date of disposition. The bill leaves in place the State Board of Health’s authority to determine what information appears on birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, as well as fetal death and induced termination reports, but carves out this specific restriction for death certificates. The measure also confirms that records and reports under the chapter may continue to be filed and registered by photographic, electronic, or other means as prescribed by the State Registrar. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Impact

HB289 makes a narrow but direct change to Section 22-9A-6 of the Code of Alabama 1975 by removing the ability to include a date of disposition on death certificates issued through the state vital records system. Its practical effect is to alter the contents of official death records used by state agencies, local registrars, funeral directors, and others who rely on certified vital records, while leaving the broader death-certificate framework intact.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House and Senate unanimously, with no recorded dissenting votes in either chamber. There is no committee transcript available showing debate or opposition, which suggests the measure was treated as a technical or administrative change rather than a contested policy issue.

Contention

No notable contention is reflected in the available record. Because there are no committee transcripts and the votes were unanimous, there is no evidence of disagreement over the policy choice to remove the date of disposition from death certificates. Any potential concerns would likely relate to recordkeeping, privacy, or administrative consistency, but none are documented in the provided materials.