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HB1031 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Crime Healthcare
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Karen Engleman
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the new training requirements or blood/tissue retention protocols.

Changes to County Coroners' Training and Death Investigation Protocols

This law updates blood or tissue retention protocols at hospitals for death investigations, sets new training requirements for coroners and deputy coroners, and imposes penalties for non-compliance.

What This Bill Does

  • Updates the rules on keeping blood or tissue samples from people who died to help with death investigations at hospitals.
  • Sets new requirements for training that coroners and deputy coroners must complete.
  • Adds a penalty of a Class B misdemeanor if a coroner or deputy coroner does not finish required training before conducting a death investigation or signing a death certificate.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Coroners and deputy coroners in Indiana
  • Hospitals that handle death investigations

Terms To Know

Class B misdemeanor
A type of punishment for breaking a law, which is less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction.
Death investigation
An official look into how and why someone died.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact details of the new training requirements or blood/tissue retention protocols.
  • It is unclear what happens if a county cannot recover costs from an individual who missed their training deadline.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1031.02.COMH.AMS03

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the Indiana Code that deals with improper investigations by local government agencies.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code under IC 5-10, which addresses improper investigations conducted by local government entities.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details about what constitutes an 'improper investigation' or the consequences of such actions.
  • It is unclear how this new section will be enforced or what procedures will follow from its implementation.
HB1031.02.COMH.AMS04

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the duties related to local government in Indiana.

  • Modifies the duties concerning local government as outlined in the Indiana Code.
  • The official text does not provide specific details about what exactly is being changed or added regarding the duties of local government.
HB1031.01.INTR.AMH02

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Karen Engleman

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the requirements for county coroners in Indiana.

  • Adds new duties and qualifications for county coroners.
  • The exact details of the new duties and qualifications are not provided, making it hard to explain fully what these changes entail.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-04 House

    Public Law 75

  3. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  4. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  5. 2026-02-26 House

    House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 386: yeas 83, nays 0

  6. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  7. 2026-02-25 House

    Motion to concur filed

  8. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 227: yeas 48, nays 0

  9. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  10. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  11. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Senator Dernulc added as second sponsor

  12. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  13. 2026-01-27 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

  14. 2026-01-14 House

    Referred to the Senate

  15. 2026-01-13 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 43: yeas 92, nays 0

  16. 2026-01-13 House

    Senate sponsor: Senator Doriot

  17. 2026-01-12 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  18. 2026-01-06 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  19. 2026-01-05 House

    Representative Abbott added as coauthor

  20. 2025-12-01 House

    Authored by Representative Engleman

  21. 2025-12-01 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
County coroners.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

County coroners.

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.