HB1402 • 2026

Medical Examiner - Release of Body - Requirements for Muslims

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Delegates Stinnett , Acevero , Addison , Coley , Lehman , Ruff , Wolek , and Young
Last action: 2026-02-13
Official status: In the House - Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Medical Examiner - Release of Body - Requirements for Muslims

Requiring a medical examiner in receipt of notice that a deceased individual was Muslim to release the body of the deceased within 48 hours after the completion of the autopsy.

What This Bill Does

Requiring a medical examiner in receipt of notice that a deceased individual was Muslim to release the body of the deceased within 48 hours after the completion of the autopsy.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-13 House
First Reading Health
2026-02-13 House
Hearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Medical Examiner - Release of Body - Requirements for Muslims

Official Summary Text

Requiring a medical examiner in receipt of notice that a deceased individual was Muslim to release the body of the deceased within 48 hours after the completion of the autopsy.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1402*

HOUSE BILL 1402
J1 6lr3332

By: Delegates Stinnett, Acevero, Addison, Coley, Lehman, Ruff, Wolek, and Young
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Health

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Medical Examiner – Release of Body – Requirements for Muslims 2

FOR the purpose of requiring a medical examiner in receipt of notice that a deceased 3
individual was Muslim, to release the body within a certain period of time after the 4
completion of the autopsy; and generally relating to the release of bodies of deceased 5
Muslims by medical examiners. 6

BY adding to 7
Article – Health – General 8
Section 5–312 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Health – General 14

5–312. 15

(A) ON RECEIPT OF NOTICE THAT A DECEASED INDIVIDUAL WAS MUSLIM, A 16
MEDICAL EXAMINER SHA LL RELEASE THE BODY OF THE DECEASED INDI VIDUAL 17
WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE AUTOPSY. 18

(B) A MEDICAL EXAMINER IS DEEMED TO HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT A 19
DECEASED INDIVIDUAL WAS MUSLIM IF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER IS PROVIDED 20
WITH: 21

(1) THE WILL OF THE DECEASED; 22

2 HOUSE BILL 1402

(2) A DOCUMENT EXECUTED UNDER § 5–509 OF THIS TITLE; 1

(3) NOTICE FROM THE DECEASED’S NEXT OF KIN; 2

(4) CONFIRMATION FROM AN IMAM OR A MOSQUE TO WHICH THE 3
DECEASED WAS KNOWN; OR 4

(5) INFORMATION REGARDING PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED FUNERAL 5
ARRANGEMENTS MADE WITH A PERSON AUTHORIZED TO OVERSEE AND CARRY OUT 6
THE BURIAL RITES OF A DECEASED MUSLIM. 7

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 8
October 1, 2026. 9