Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Combat Stillbirths Through Better Data Collection

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced bipartisan legislation this week to combat stillbirths through enhanced data collection and research, proposing federal grants that could bring tens of thousands of dollars to Montana’s existing maternal health programs.

The “SHINE for Autumn Act” would authorize $30 million over five years to help states improve stillbirth surveillance, strengthen privacy protections for sensitive health data, and develop educational materials for families and healthcare providers.

“Stillbirth is a tragedy faced by thousands of moms and families every year, both in Montana and throughout the nation,” Daines said in a statement. “I’m glad to join my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to help expand research, education, and data collection surrounding stillbirths, so we can save lives and provide hope for stillbirth families.”

The legislation, co-sponsored by senators from both parties including Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., would provide $5 million annually in competitive grants to states beginning in 2026.

Building on Montana’s Current Programs

Montana already operates stillbirth surveillance through its Fetal, Infant, Child & Maternal Mortality Review program, established by state statute in 1997. County teams across the state review stillbirth cases annually using a secure database system, though the number of cases varies significantly by county.

The federal funding would supplement Montana’s existing infrastructure by providing dedicated resources for enhanced data collection, standardized reporting across counties, and improved privacy protections.

Based on Montana’s population of approximately 1.1 million, the state could potentially receive between $50,000 to $100,000 annually under typical federal health funding formulas, though the final amounts would depend on competitive applications and demonstrated capacity for data collection.

Comprehensive Federal Framework

The SHINE for Autumn Act would create the most comprehensive federal approach to stillbirth prevention to date. Key provisions include:

• State grants totaling $5 million annually for stillbirth surveillance and data collection from existing datasets
• Federal guidelines backed by $1 million annually for the Department of Health and Human Services to develop best practices for data collection
• Privacy protections requiring all collected data to be de-identified with no disclosure of individually identifying information
• Stakeholder consultation with 12 different groups, from healthcare associations to families who experienced stillbirth

The legislation requires HHS to issue guidelines to state health departments on collecting stillbirth data from healthcare providers, with patient consent, including clinical history, postmortem examination, and placental pathology information.

Named for Personal Tragedy

The bill honors Autumn Joy, who was stillborn on July 8, 2011. Her mother, Debbie Haine Vijayvergiya, has spent more than a decade advocating for stillbirth families and giving voice to the stillbirth community.

The legislation mandates consultation with families who have experienced stillbirth and advocacy organizations representing them, alongside medical professionals including obstetricians, pediatricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and mental health professionals.

Within five years of enactment, HHS must publish educational guidelines on stillbirth and risk factors on a public website, incorporating the developed standards and educational materials.

Montana’s Vital Statistics Analysis Unit, which collaborates with the Office of Vital Statistics to monitor vital events statewide, would likely play a key role in implementing any federal grants the state receives.

“This bipartisan approach recognizes that improving stillbirth prevention requires better data, stronger privacy protections, and coordinated efforts between federal and state health officials,” the legislation states in its findings.