Pontiac Times

Rep. John Reilly (R-Oakland Township) voted for House Bill 5289, which would waive fees associated with stillborn death certificates in Michigan.

"I voted yes on HB 5289, which was returned from the Senate," Reilly said in a Sept. 24 Facebook post. "The Senate fixed a technical problem that would have caused the bill to come into conflict with PA 53. HB 5289 waives the fee for stillborn death certificates. The bill passed 99-4."

HB 5289, which was introduced Dec. 10, 2019, by Rep. Julie Alexander (R-Hanover), has been passed by both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, according to OpenStates. 

"I voted for House Bill 5289, which would eliminate the fee for a Michigan Certificate of Stillbirth. We recently passed a law allowing a one-time tax exemption for stillbirth, so long as they provide a certificate of stillbirth," Reilly said, according to Michigan House Republicans. "To obtain the certificate, a family must apply for one through the State Registrar, which includes a search of the State of Michigan Vital Records for a fetal death report. The records search can cost $46 or more. Requiring a taxpayer to purchase a certificate of stillbirth for the purposes of a tax exemption defeats the purpose of the tax exemption. It passed 100-6."