Indiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Indiana HB1031: County coroners.
Status: Signed into law, February 27, 2026
Makes changes to the blood or tissue retention protocols at a hospital for purposes of conducting a death investigation. Makes changes to the training course requirements for coroners and deputy coroners. Makes changes to provisions governing the conduct of a death investigation.Provides that a coroner or deputy coroner who conducts a death investigation or signs a death certificate without completing certain training commits a Class B misdemeanor. Provides that, if a coroner or deputy coroner fails to complete the required training course within the time required, the county shall reimburse the coroners training board for the cost of the training. Provides that the county may recover from an individual the amount the county reimbursed the coroners training board. Makes technical corrections.
What the bill says
An act to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government. SECTION 1. IC 4-23-6.5-10, AS AMENDED BY P.L.3-2008, SECTION 10, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 10. The board shall consult with the Indiana law enforcement academy under IC 36-2-14-22.3 concerning criminal investigations in the creation of: (1) the training course for coroners and deputy coroners under IC 36-2-14-22.3(a); and (2) the annual training course for coroners and deputy coroners under IC 36-2-14-22.3(b). IC 36-2-14-22.3(c). SECTION 2. IC 35-52-36-13.3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 13.3. IC 36-2-14-23 defines a crime concerning coroners and deputy coroners. SECTION 3. IC 36-2-14-6, AS AMENDED BY P.L.186-2025, SECTION 254, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 6. (a) Whenever the coroner is notified that a person in the (2) has died by casualty; (3) has died when apparently in good health; (4) has died in an apparently suspicious, unusual, or unnatural manner; or HEA 1031 -- Concur (5) has been found dead; the coroner shall, before the scene of the death is disturbed, notify a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in that area. The agency shall assist the coroner in determining the cause, manner, and mechanism of death. The coroner shall …
Sponsors
- Karen Engleman (R, HD-070) · primary sponsor
- David Abbott (R, HD-018)
Latest actions
- : Public Law 75
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Signed by the President of the Senate
- : Signed by the President Pro Tempore
- : House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 386: yeas 83, nays 0
- : Signed by the Speaker
- : Motion to concur filed
- : Third reading: passed; Roll Call 227: yeas 48, nays 0
- : Returned to the House with amendments
- : Senator Dernulc added as second sponsor
Votes
- HB1031.03.COMS.CON01 (February 26, 2026): 83 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HB1031.03.COMS (February 24, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HB1031.02.COMH (January 13, 2026): 92 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COUNCILS; Generally, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS; Coroners, CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE; Creation of New Offenses, STATE GOVERNMENT; State and Local Funding
Common questions
- What is HB1031?
- HB1031 is a bill in the Indiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): County coroners.
- What does HB1031 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
- What is the status of HB1031?
- Signed into law as of February 27, 2026. Latest action: Public Law 75 (March 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1031?
- Karen Engleman (R, HD-070), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB1031?
- On the Indiana Legislature website: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1031
Source: official Indiana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.