In case you're wondering about the status of MAID in America so far in 2025, here's a quick run down on how it's faring in several key states. As usual, there is both good and bad news for those of us who hope to die a dignified death on our own terms when our life is at an end.
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
A total of fourteen states have introduced new bills this year. In the East, these include Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island. The Midwest sees a cluster of five states—Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee—joining the effort. And in the Southwest, our own state of Arizona is taking action. Since the U.S. has not passed a MAID law since New Mexico in 2021, it is encouraging to see so many states continuing to push for progress.
ACCESSIBILITY
Five states where MAID is already legal—Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington—are working on amendments to improve accessibility. Proposed changes include:
- Shortening waiting periods or allowing physician waivers,
- Expanding the pool of providers to include physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), and
- Requiring hospices to publicly disclose their stance on MAID on their websites.
This is progress! However, the opposition for allowing those who want the ability to use MAID if they so choose continues to hinder the passage of MAID in America.
ARIZONA
House Bill 2243 dated January 16, 2025 and Senate Bill 1404 dated January 30, 2025: by the time you are reading this, these two bills will be DOA. In the Arizona legislature, if a bill in the House has not had a hearing by Feb 28th, it does not crossover to the Senate. Likewise, if a bill in the Senate has not had a hearing, it does not crossover to the House. Neither of the MAID bills this year were put on the agenda in the respective GOP-led Health & Human Services Committees. We’ll try again in 2026!
NORTH CAROLINA
Rather than propose a MAID bill this year, sponsors instead introduced a bill – H877 -- to propose a study by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine to research the effects of legalizing MAID. Hopefully this effort will educate the lawmakers and voters alike for future legislation.
CONNECTICUT
In a state where MAID is not yet legal (but residents can travel to Vermont or Oregon for MAID), Bill HB5712 has been introduced to require that death certificates list cause of death as suicide. Currently the underlying terminal illness is listed and MAID bills state this is not to be considered suicide. This is a new strategy by the voice of the opposition to make MAID look less attractive.
VERMONT
House Bill 75 introduced the idea of allowing naturopaths to participate in their MAID law which passed in 2013. A study group decided it did not want to expand it’s MAID law in this way. Other states allow physician assistants and nurse practitioners to participate but do not include naturopaths. The Vermont Association of Naturopathic Physicians sited the shortage of primary physicians, but Patient Choices Vermont did not endorse the idea.
WEST VIRGINIA
In November 2024, West Virginia became the first state to pass Amendment 1 to the state’s constitution prohibiting “the practice of medically assisted suicide, euthanasia or mercy killing.” It was a narrow win with 50.5% in favor and 49.5% opposed. Supporters predictably included the Diocese of the Catholic Church and West Virginians for Life. Opposition included the ACLU and Compassion & Choices. Some voters claimed they were confused by the wording: a “yes” vote meant you were in favor of the prohibition and a “no” vote meant you were against the constitutional amendment. Other states will no doubt try this new opposition strategy.
MONTANA
MAID is legal in Montana, but not through a detailed bill or ballot initiative. In 2009, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that it was not a crime in "Baxter vs. Montana." Every year since then there have been those who want to criminalize MAID in Montana and 2025 is no different. SB 136, officially called "Prohibit consent as a defense for physician assisted suicide" and dubbed the "Physician Imprisonment Act" by Compassion and Choices, is making it's way through the legislature.
