Legacy Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5861
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-28: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-17T09:06:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Legacy Act of 2025 aims to improve access to individuals' end-of-life preferences by directing a study on creating a national system for securely storing and retrieving personal documents related to healthcare and legal wishes, ensuring these services are free for users.
Key Provisions
- Mandate for Study Agreement: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must seek an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct a study on developing and operating a nationwide, confidential, and secure system.
- System Details: The system would allow storage and retrieval of "last wish documents" by an authorized agent (such as a family member or legal representative), with no cost to the individual.
- Reporting Requirements: NASEM must submit a status update to the Secretary and Congress within 2 years of the bill's enactment, and the full study results within 4 years.
- Definitions:
- Last wish document: Includes advance directives (instructions for future medical care if unable to communicate), organ donor registrations, healthcare proxies (designated decision-makers for medical choices), powers of attorney (legal authority to act on someone's behalf), and living wills (specific instructions for end-of-life care).
- National Academies: Refers to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
- Secretary: The head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal mandate for a feasibility study, as no prior national system for storing these documents is referenced. It does not create the system itself but lays groundwork for potential future legislation based on the study's findings, potentially standardizing what are currently state-level or private processes for handling end-of-life documents.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS would oversee the agreement and reporting, while NASEM conducts the research; this could influence future HHS policies on digital health records and privacy.
- On Citizens: Individuals could gain easier, free access to stored documents during emergencies, reducing confusion or delays in honoring medical and legal wishes; however, it raises questions about data security and accessibility.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though the study could inform global standards for digital health records if adopted broadly.
- Broader Effects: If recommendations lead to implementation, it might streamline healthcare decisions, lower administrative burdens on hospitals, and promote organ donation, but it depends on future actions by Congress.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals and Families: Primary beneficiaries, as they could store and retrieve documents without cost, aiding in critical health situations.
- Healthcare Providers and Facilities: Would interact with the system for quick access to patient wishes, potentially improving care efficiency.
- Government Entities: HHS (oversight role), NASEM (study conductor), and Congress (receives reports and may act on findings).
- Legal and Advocacy Groups: Those involved in elder care, disability rights, or bioethics, who might provide input or benefit from standardized processes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Emphasizes confidentiality and security, aligning with existing privacy laws like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which protects medical information); the study could address gaps in interstate recognition of documents.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges, but any future system must balance federal involvement with state rights over healthcare and privacy under the 10th Amendment.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Representatives Suozzi and Murphy) suggests broad appeal for improving end-of-life planning; it focuses on study rather than immediate mandates, allowing for non-controversial advancement while highlighting needs in aging populations and digital infrastructure.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-28: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-10-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Legacy Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-28 — PDF (3 pages)