HR5469-119

What This Bill Does:
The SHINE for Autumn Act of 2025 aims to improve understanding of stillbirths by funding research, improving data collection, and creating educational resources. The bill addresses the gap in systematic stillbirth surveillance and standardized data collection across states.

Who Benefits and How:
- Public health researchers and healthcare professionals benefit from improved access to standardized stillbirth data and new funding for research ($5 million annually for surveillance grants)
- Families who have experienced stillbirth benefit from new educational awareness materials and potentially better understanding of risk factors
- State health departments receive federal grants to build capacity for stillbirth data collection and analysis

Who Bears the Burden and How:
- The Department of Health and Human Services must administer grants, develop guidelines, consult with stakeholders, and publish a comprehensive report within five years
- State health departments and vital statistics units must implement new data collection guidelines, improve processes, and ensure standardization
- Healthcare providers may need to adapt their reporting practices to comply with new data collection standards (though with patient consent required)

Key Provisions:
- Authorizes $5 million annually (FY2026-2030) for state grants to conduct stillbirth surveillance and collect data on risk factors
- Authorizes $1 million annually (FY2026-2030) for developing guidelines and educational materials
- Requires data to be de-identified and compliant with privacy laws
- Mandates HHS to issue guidelines to state health departments on standardized stillbirth data collection
- Requires HHS to publish a report on stillbirth risk factors within five years