WashingtonWashington uses medical estimates of pregnancy length to define fetal death
Washington's fetal death definition uses pregnancy length at death, based on the best clinical estimate, to decide whether a loss meets the 20-week cutoff.
What it does
Fetal death requires no signs of life after delivery and at least 20 weeks at death using the best clinical estimate, or 350 grams if pregnancy length is unknown. It excludes pregnancies intentionally ended without intending a live birth, when no live birth results.
Argument forClinical dating could help professionals classify pregnancy losses using a more accurate estimate of pregnancy length at death.
Argument againstDifferent clinical estimates could lead professionals to classify similar pregnancy losses differently near the 20-week cutoff.
More detail
Washington uses the best clinically accurate estimate of pregnancy length at death to apply the 20-week fetal death threshold. The definition applies to Washington's system for recording births, deaths, and other vital events. There must be no signs of life after delivery or removal from the pregnant person. The definition excludes intentionally ending a pregnancy without intending a live birth, when no live birth results. If pregnancy length is unknown, the definition uses a weight of at least 350 grams. The law took effect June 11, 2026. Section 1 expires June 30, 2027, when Section 2 takes effect with the same fetal death definition.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 14Effective date 6/11/2026*.Latest
- Mar 14Chapter 45, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 14Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 4President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 91; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#12). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 2Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 24HCW - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 12First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.Minor
- Feb 10Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#23). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 4Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Jan 22Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Jan 20Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 20HLTC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 20Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 16Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.Minor
- Jan 7Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Healthcare