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State Considers Issuing Certificates After Miscarriages

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

Florida could begin issuing what's essentially a fetal death certificate to women who have had miscarriages.

The House voted 115-1 Wednesday for what's called the "Grieving Families Act."

At a parent's request, the state would issue "certificates of nonviable birth" to women whose pregnancies end after nine weeks and before 20 weeks of gestation.

Pregnancies that end at 20 weeks or later are considered stillbirths and death certificates must be issued. Parents can also request a birth certificate in such cases.

A similar Senate bill has one more committee stop before it's ready for a full chamber vote. It has been unanimously approved in its first two committee stops.