Alabama

Alaska 

Arizona 

Arkansas

California 

Colorado

Connecticut

  • Connecticut has passed a law that formally recognizes SDM within the transition planning and transfer-of-rights processes for students with disabilities approaching age 18.
  • SDM in Connecticut’s Transition Planning and Transfer-of-rights Law: Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 10-74s (2023)

Delaware

  • Delaware has passed comprehensive legislation related to SDM agreements. The State has also enacted the Uniform Health-Care Decision Act, which recognizes SDM as reasonable accommodation relevant to a person’s capacity to make or revoke a health-care decision, a health-care instruction, or an appointment of an agent under a health-care power of attorney. Finally, the State recognizes SDM as an “auxiliary aid and service” to prevent discrimination in access to organ transplantation.
  • Delaware’s SDM Agreement Law: Del. Code Ann. tit. 16, §§ 9401A to 9410A (2016)
  • SDM in Delaware’s Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act: Del. Code Ann. tit. 16, §§ 2502, 2503, 2512 (2025)
  • Delaware’s Organ Transplant Law: Del. Code Ann. tit. 16, § 2742 (2017)

Florida

  • Florida has passed comprehensive legislation related to SDM agreements. The State’s probate code also requires guardianship petitions to describe efforts to use SDM and why SDM is an insufficient alternative to guardianship. In addition, Florida formally recognizes SDM within the transition planning and transfer-of-rights processes for students with disabilities approaching age 18. Finally, Florida recognizes SDM as an “auxiliary aid and service” to prevent discrimination in access to organ transplantation.
  • Florida’s SDM Agreement Law: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 709.2209 (2024)
  • SDM in Florida’s Probate Code: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 744.3201 (2024)
  • SDM in Florida’s Transition Planning and Transfer-of-rights Law: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 1003.5716 (2024)
  • Florida’s Organ Transplant Law: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 765.523 (2020)

Georgia

Hawaii 

Idaho 

  • Idaho has not enacted any SDM laws.

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

  • Iowa has not enacted any SDM laws.

Kansas 

Kentucky 

  • Kentucky has not enacted any SDM laws.

Louisiana 

Maine 

  • Maine has passed the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act (known as “UGCOPAA”), which requires Probate Courts to consider SDM as a “less-restrictive option” before appointing a guardian or conservator.
  • SDM in Maine’s UGCOPAA: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C §§ 5-102, 5-301, 5-304, 5-310, 5-317, 5-401, 5-411, 5-405, 5-502, 5-503, 5-506 (2019)

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

  • Massachusetts has not enacted any SDM laws.

Michigan 

  • Michigan has not enacted any SDM laws.

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

  • Missouri’s probate code requires courts to consider SDM as a less restrictive alternative before appointing a guardian or conservator.
  • SDM in Missouri’s Probate Code: Mo. Ann. Stat. § 475.075 (2018)

Montana

Nebraska

  • Nebraska has not enacted any SDM laws.

Nevada 

  • Nevada has passed comprehensive legislation related to SDM agreements. The State also recognizes SDM as an “auxiliary aid and service” to prevent discrimination in access to organ transplantation. Finally, the Nevada legislature recently passed Senate Bill 346, which defines SDM as a less restrictive alternative and requires guardianship petitioners to submit an assessment from a physician determining whether less restrictive alternatives to guardianship are available.
  • Nevada’s SDM Agreement Law: Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 162C.010 to 162C.330 (2019)
  • Nevada’s Organ Transplant Law: Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 460.160 (2021)
  • Nevada’s New Law Related to SDM as a Less Restrictive Alternative: S. 346, 83rd Leg., Reg. Sess. (NV 2025)

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

  • New Jersey has not enacted any SDM laws.

New Mexico

New York 

North Carolina 

North Dakota 

  • North Dakota has passed comprehensive legislation related to SDM agreements. The State’s probate code also requires courts to consider the availability of “alternative plans to guardianship,” including SDM, before appointing a guardian.
  • North Dakota’s SDM Agreement Law: N.D. Cent. Code Ann. §§ 30.1-36-01 to 30.1-36-08 (2019)
  • SDM in North Dakota’s Probate Code: N.D. Cent. Code Ann. §§ 30.1-01-06, 30.1-28-04 (2025) 

Ohio 

Oklahoma 

Oregon 

  • Oregon has passed a law that formally recognizes SDM within the transition planning and transfer-of-rights processes for students with disabilities approaching age 18.
  • SDM in Oregon’s Transition Planning and Transfer-of-rights Law: Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 343.181 (2022) 

Pennsylvania 

  • While Pennsylvania’s probate code does not use the term “SDM” explicitly, it requires courts to consider the need for a guardian “in light of such factors as the availability of family, friends and other supports to assist the individual in making decisions.”
  • Reference to Decision-making Supports in Pennsylvania’s Probate Code: 20 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5512.1 (2024)

Rhode Island 

South Carolina

South Dakota 

  • South Dakota has not enacted any SDM laws.

Tennessee 

  • Tennessee has not enacted any SDM laws.

Texas 

  • Texas has passed comprehensive legislation related to SDM agreements. The State has also passed a law that formally recognizes SDM within the transition planning and transfer-of-rights processes for students with disabilities approaching age 18.
  • Texas’s SDM Agreement Law: Tex. Est. Code Ann. §§ 1357.001 to 1357.102 (2015)
  • SDM in Texas’s Transition Planning and Transfer-of-rights Law: Tex. Educ. Code Ann. §§ 29.011, 29.0112, 29.017 (2017)

Utah

  • In 2025, Utah passed comprehensive legislation related to SDM agreements. The State has also enacted the Uniform Health-Care Decision Act, which recognizes SDM as reasonable accommodation relevant to a person’s capacity to make or revoke a health-care decision, a health-care instruction, or an appointment of an agent under a health-care power of attorney.
  • Utah’s SDM Agreement Law: Utah Code Ann. §§ 75-5-701 to 75-5-709 (2025)
  • SDM in Utah’s Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act: Utah Code Ann. §§ 75A-9-101, 75A-9-102, 75A-9-111 (2025)

Vermont 

  • Vermont has not enacted any SDM laws.

Virginia 

Washington 

  • Washington has passed comprehensive legislation related to SDM agreements. The State has also passed the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act (known as “UGCOPAA”), which requires Probate Courts to consider SDM as a less restrictive alternative before appointing a guardian or conservator. Finally, Washington recognizes SDM as an “auxiliary aid and service” to prevent discrimination in access to organ transplantation.
  • Washington’s SDM Agreement Law: Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §§ 11.130.700 to 11.130.755 (2022)
  • SDM in Washington’s UGCOPAA: Wash. Rev. Code Ann. §§ 11.130.010, 11.130.265, 11.130.280, 11.130.310, 11.130.320, 11.130.345, 11.130.360, 11.130.420, 11.130.430, 11.130.585, 11.130.590, 11.130.605, 11.130.650 (2024)
  • Washington’s Organ Transplant Law: Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 68.70.010 (2019)

Washington D.C.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming