On 28 November 2018 the Bundestag held a debate of two and a half hours on organ donation. No bill had yet been submitted. The debate was open as to its result, and party discipline was lifted.
Groups of members from different parties then wrote their own bills. On 16 January 2020 the Bundestag rejected the proposal that everyone would count as a donor unless they objected. 379 members voted against it and 292 for it. The Bundestag chose another solution instead. Citizens are to be approached about organ donation at least every ten years when they collect their identity card.