HR 5861
Legacy Act of 2025
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to work with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study how to create a secure system for storing ‘last wish documents.’ These documents include things like advance directives, organ donor registrations, and healthcare proxies. The goal is to allow authorized agents to access these wishes in the event an individual is unable to do so themselves.
Key provisions
- Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to seek an agreement with the National Academies.
- Requires the National Academies to conduct a study on establishing a national system for storing last wish documents.
- The system must be confidential and secure.
- The study should be conducted at no cost to the individual.
- The National Academies must submit a status report to Congress within 2 years.
- The National Academies must submit the final results of the study to Congress within 4 years.
Who is affected
- Individuals
- Healthcare providers
- Authorized agents (e.g., family members, legal representatives)
- The Department of Health and Human Services
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Notable changes
- Establishes a framework for a national system to manage and access ‘last wish documents.’
- Defines ‘last wish document’ to include various advance planning tools.
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5861
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to seek an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on establishing a system for storing last wish documents, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Legacy Act of 2025
.
not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the status of the study conducted under such agreement; and
not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the results of the study conducted under such agreement.
In this Act:
an advance directive;
an organ donor registration;
a healthcare or medical proxy;
a living will.