Advocacy in Action

Compassion & Choices continues leading efforts to authorize, implement and defend medical aid in dying throughout America so people in every state can access the full range of end-of-life options. So far, we have succeeded in authorizing medical aid in dying in 11 jurisdictions: California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Compassion & Choices currently leads or supports campaigns in 18 states. This means a state director and staff on the ground bringing lobbying, media, marketing and legal expertise to rally lawmakers and support thousands of volunteers in getting bills passed. Our work is entirely donor-funded.

Legislative Session Overview

(Last updated April 5, 2024)

Medical aid in dying has been introduced in 18 states:

• Nine states have legislation that carried over from the previous year —
  • Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin.
• Ten states introduced new legislation —
  • Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia.
• Two states have introduced bills to improve their existing medical aid-in-dying laws:
  • New Jersey, Colorado.

Medical aid in dying is under attack in three states:

• California, litigation.
• New Jersey, litigation and legislation.
• Washington, litigation.

Updates This Week

Week ending May 10, 2024

Colorado

SB24-068 officially reached Gov.Polis’ desk. He has until Monday, June 3, to sign the bill. 

New York

Both ALS United Greater NY and the New York State Association of Counties issued official memos in support of the Medical Aid in Dying Act, bringing our number of supportive state organizations to 52.

Find the Latest Updates in Your State

Use the dropdown button below to find updates, resources, and opportunities to get involved in your state.