Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB848: AN ACT relating to deceased persons.
Status: In committee, March 10, 2026
Amend KRS 72.425 to require the state medical examiner to perform an autopsy on a decedent when the death of the person is not a coroner's case if a request is made by written consent by the decedent's spouse, the next of kin, or the person who assumes the responsibility to dispose of the body, as applicable; amend KRS 72.460 to specify who pays for an autopsy.
What the bill says
An act relating to deceased persons.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to deceased persons. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 72.425 is amended to read as follows: (1) In the event the death of a person is not a coroner's case, consent to an autopsy shall be obtained from the decedent, by written consent, signed and acknowledged prior to his or her death; or his or her spouse; or in the absence of a spouse, the next of kin of the decedent; or in the absence of any of the above, the person who assumes the responsibility to dispose of the body. (2) The state medical examiner shall perform an autopsy on a decedent when the death of the person is not a coroner's case if a request is made by written consent by the decedent's spouse; or in the absence of a spouse, the next of kin of the decedent; or in the absence of any of the above, the person who assumes the responsibility to dispose of the body. Section 2. KRS 72.460 is amended to read as provided, however, that the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Office of the Kentucky State Medical Examiner, may contract with pathologists and toxicologists and chemists and pay for such autopsies within the budgetary limitations of funds appropriated by the General …
Sponsors
- Candy Massaroni (R, HD-050) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : to Health Services (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: State Agencies, Deaths, Sex discrimination: scope., Health And Medical Services
Common questions
- What is HB848?
- HB848 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to deceased persons.
- What does HB848 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to deceased persons.
- What is the status of HB848?
- In committee as of March 10, 2026. Latest action: to Health Services (H) (March 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB848?
- Candy Massaroni (R, HD-050).
- Where is the official record for HB848?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb848.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.