A bill approved by conference committee in the Hawaii Legislature on Thursday would make it easier for transgender individuals to get a birth certificate that agrees with their gender identity, removing the requirement for gender reassignment surgery before such a change can be made.

House Bill 631 would enable transgender individuals who either cannot or choose not to have surgery to have the sex marker changed on their birth certificate after having their physician or psychiatrist attest that the individual’s gender identity does not correspond to that indicated on the form. Based on the medical professional’s affidavit, the Department of Health would make the change.

Birth certificate are used to prove such things as date of birth, citizenship and parentage in a range of circumstances, from obtaining work permits to school registration to receiving insurance benefits. They are vital records, critical to managing some of life’s most personal and basic necessities.

The bill next goes back to the House and Senate for final floor votes, which are considered formalities, since both chambers previously passed similar versions of the bill. With their passage, it will go to Gov. David Ige, who is expected to sign the bill into law.

Hawaii would then join six other states and the District of Columbia that allow such birth certificate changes without gender surgery. Connecticut, Colorado and Maryland are considering similar changes in their respective legislative sessions this spring.