Committee approves bill on ‘dignity in pregnancy loss’ after heated debate over coroner jurisdiction

The Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee voted 8–5 on March 19 to report Substitute Senate Bill 1593, titled “dignity in pregnancy loss,” out of committee with a due-pass recommendation after extended debate and multiple unsuccessful amendments.

Committee staff summarized the bill as addressing dignity in cases of stillbirth and pregnancy loss; several members characterized the measure as seeking to repeal an antiquated criminal offense often described in the hearing as the “crime of concealing birth.” Representative Walsh moved several amendments aimed at preserving or clarifying local coroner and medical examiner jurisdiction in certain circumstances. Representative Walsh said the amendments sought “to find a better balance” between public and private interests and described the proposals as attempts to ensure coroners could review cases when there was a reasonable likelihood a fetus would…