After New Mexico authorized medical aid in dying (MAID) in 2021, there was a four-year pause in new states joining the right-to-die movement. In 2025, that logjam finally broke: three more states enacted MAID laws, expanding access and momentum nationwide.
Delaware breaks through
On May 20, 2025, Gov. Matt Meyer signed the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Act (HB 140) into law, making Delaware the 12th U.S. jurisdiction to authorize MAID. This victory came after a decade-long effort and a particularly painful setback the previous year, when then-Gov. John Carney vetoed a similar bill just three months before resigning to become mayor of Wilmington.
The current law took effect January 1, 2026. It did not go unchallenged: opponents filed a federal lawsuit arguing that the statute would exclude terminally ill people from using the state’s suicide-prevention services, a new line of attack from MAID critics. A U.S. District Court dismissed the case, allowing the law to proceed.
Illinois becomes the first in the Midwest
On December 12, 2025, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Illinois End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (SB 1950), known as Deb’s Law, making Illinois the 13th jurisdiction and the first Midwestern state to legalize MAID. The law will take effect in September 2026. Its passage capped a 28-year journey from the introduction of the first MAID bill in Illinois to final enactment.
Opposition has been vigorous. Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, reportedly reached out personally to urge Gov. Pritzker not to sign the bill. Efforts are already underway in the Illinois House to repeal the law or significantly narrow it through restrictive amendments, so the political drama there is far from over.
New York joins after a decade-long campaign
New York became the third state in this recent wave to pass a MAID bill, again after years of advocacy and anxiety for supporters. The Medical Aid in Dying Act was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on February 6, 2026, following a 10-year campaign and with polling showing support from roughly 72% of New Yorkers. The law will take effect in August 2026.
End of Life Choices New York, working alongside Compassion & Choices and Death With Dignity National Center, led the sustained advocacy effort, backed by a broad coalition that included endorsements from the New York State Council of Churches.
New York’s law follows the familiar “Oregon Model” safeguards but adds several stricter provisions not found in most other states, including:
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A requirement that the patient’s oral request to the physician be audio- or video-recorded.
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A mandatory mental health evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist to confirm decision-making capacity.
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A mandatory five-day waiting period between writing and filling the prescription.
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An in-person initial evaluation, residency requirement, and protections allowing religiously affiliated hospice providers to opt out.
As expected, the New York Catholic bishops strongly condemned the law and criticized Gov. Hochul, a Catholic, for signing it. Hochul described her decision as “incredibly difficult,” but after negotiations and added safeguards, she and the legislative sponsors agreed on a final bill, and New York became the 14th U.S. jurisdiction to legalize MAID.
Growing momentum, ongoing resistance
Each new MAID law helps pave the way for the next. In any given year, more than a dozen states consider end-of-life options legislation, and in states where MAID is already legal, opponents often turn to the courts or repeal efforts to roll back existing laws. Even in Washington, D.C., where fewer than ten residents a year choose MAID, opponents continue to introduce repeal measures.
Advocates understand that achieving MAID access in all 50 states is a marathon, not a sprint. Progress often comes after many years—and sometimes decades—of education, organizing, and electoral change.
To follow national developments, you can bookmark:
Aid in Dying Collaborative: https://www.aidindying.org
Academy of Aid in Dying Medicine: https://www.aadm.org
Arizona: where things stand now
Closer to home, Arizona’s MAID bill, HB 2569, was largely symbolic this session and, as of 2/20/26, is effectively dead. Although the bill was assigned to two committees (Health and Human Services and Rules), it was never added to either agenda for a hearing. Because February 20 was the deadline for committee hearings and for bills to cross over to the Senate, HB 2569 will not advance this year—along with hundreds of other bills sponsored by Democrats.
Despite this setback, our work continues. We will keep educating lawmakers and voters, building support, and preparing for another push next year.
In the meantime, we encourage you to send a brief “thank you” email to the lawmakers who sponsored HB 2569 this year. Expressing appreciation helps sustain champions who are willing to take political risks on our behalf:
