Daines Introduces Bill to Support Montana Moms, Help Prevent Stillbirths

• September 18, 2025

U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the bipartisan "SHINE for Autumn Act" to support mothers and reduce stillbirths by improving data reporting standards, developing guidelines, and raising awareness for families and health care providers.

"Stillbirth is a tragedy faced by thousands of moms and families every year, both in Montana and throughout the nation. 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," said Daines.

Read the bill text HERE.

Background:

The "SHINE for Autumn Act" aims to bridge gaps in stillbirth data, research, and education by:

• Providing grants to states to support consistent, secure data collection, assessment, and reporting on stillbirth and risk factors;
• Strengthening privacy protections to ensure sensitive health data is protected; and
• Directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with health care providers, to develop best practices and educational materials for state health departments on stillbirth data collection and prevention strategies.

The SHINE for Autumn Act is named in honor of Autumn Joy, who was born still on July 8, 2011. Her mother, Debbie Haine Vijayvergiya, has spent more than a decade advocating for families and giving a voice to the stillbirth community.

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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins