Public Health Committee Bill That Includes Rep. Lanoue’s Short Form Death Certificate Concept Passes Through Committee on Friday
H.B. No. 7157, An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes Will Now Await Further Legislative Action
HARTFORD- Earlier today, the Public Health Committee voted in favor of advancing a committee bill that will now include language that create a short form death certificate in Connecticut that would not include the cause and manner of death on it. The legislation drafted by State Representative Brian Lanoue (R-45), first appeared in H.B. No. 5196, An Act Concerning Death Certificates, was tucked into the committee bill after compelling testimony during the March 10th Public Health Committee Public Hearing.
Griswold resident, Natasha Mozden, joined Rep. Lanoue at the hearing to testify in support of the bill, while sharing the details of her experience following the passing of her son, Kaine Sherman, in 2024. Mrs. Mozden discussed with members of the Public Health Committee the intrusion of privacy that her and her family underwent during the probate process. Due to the cause and manner of a person’s death being listed on death certificate, sensitive information is revealed to all who need to view the certificate after the person’s passing.
‘I’d like to extend my gratitude to the Public Health Committee for their decision to add the language from H.B. No. 5196 into H.B. No. 7157,” said Natasha Mozden. “It is an honor to my son, Kaine’s legacy to share this simple act of compassion with grieving citizens of Connecticut. My family & I are fortunate to have Brian as our state representative, as he has been a Champion of this cause from the beginning.”
With the passage of this bill out of the Public Health Committee, Connecticut looks to join at least 22 other states across our country that have a short form death certificate available to the surviving families.
“I am delighted that the Public Health Committee has taken this very compassionate and common-sense step to allow for the creation of the short form option for death certificates,” said Rep. Lanoue. “This will put Connecticut in step with at least 22 other states that respect the privacy of people who have passed away and their families that they leave behind by creating a less intrusive short form that does not have the very painful and unnecessary information surrounding the intimate details of a loved one’s passing. I want to thank the entire Public Health Committee membership, specifically co-chairs Representative McCarthy-Vahey, Senator Anwar, as well as ranking members Representative Klarides-Ditria and Senator Somers. But most of all I want to thank Natasha Mozden for all the courage she has shown by stepping forward to bring this important issue to the forefront and help try to steer public policy change in our state.”
For updates on this story, and on the 2025 Connecticut Regular Legislative Session, please visit www.RepLanoue.com.