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HB1421 • 2026

Coroners; require to receieve additional training from CDC Collaborating Office for Medical Examiners and Coroners.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-21-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR CORONERS CONSISTING OF AT LEAST 50 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION FROM THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) COLLABORATING OFFICE FOR MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND CORONERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Karriem
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so there is no official text specifying how proof of training should be filed with county officials.

Coroners Must Get Special Training

This bill requires coroners elected on or after July 1, 2026, to complete at least 50 hours of training from the CDC Collaborating Office for Medical Examiners and Coroners.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires new coroners elected on or after July 1, 2026, to take a special training course.
  • The training must be at least 50 hours long and approved by the CDC's office for medical examiners and coroners.
  • Coroners need to show proof of completing this training before they can start their job.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who become coroners after July 1, 2026
  • County clerks and boards of supervisors who will receive the training completion certificates

Terms To Know

Coroner
A public official responsible for investigating sudden or unexplained deaths.
CDC Collaborating Office for Medical Examiners and Coroners
An office that works with the CDC to provide training and support to medical examiners and coroners.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it has no legal effect.
  • It only applies to new coroners elected on or after July 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Coroners; require to receieve additional training from CDC Collaborating Office for Medical Examiners and Coroners.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1421 *HR43/R2266* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R2266
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)

To: Public Health and Human
Services
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Karriem

HOUSE BILL NO. 1421

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-21-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR CORONERS 2
CONSISTING OF AT LEAST 50 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION FROM THE CENTER FOR 3
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) COLLABORATING OFFICE FOR 4
MEDICAL EXAMINERS AND CORONERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 19-21-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
19-21-105. (1) Each coroner elected in the 1987 general 9
election and thereafter shall attend the Mississippi Forensics 10
Laboratory and State Medical Examiner Death Investigation Training 11
School provided for in subsection (5) of Section 41-61-57, and 12
shall successfully complete subsequent testing on the subject 13
material prior to taking the oath of office. If the elected 14
coroner fails to successfully complete the school and testing, he 15
or she shall not be eligible to take the oath of office. 16
(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of 17
this section, each person elected to the office of coroner on or 18
after July 1, 2026, shall successfully complete a minimum of fifty 19
H. B. No. 1421 *HR43/R2266* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2266
PAGE 2 (OM\KP)
ST: Coroners; require to receieve additional
training from CDC Collaborating Office for
Medical Examiners and Coroners.
(50) hours of training approved or provided by the Center for 20
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Collaborating Office for 21
Medical Examiners and Coroners. The training shall be completed 22
online or in-person. 23
(3) Proof of successful completion of the training required 24
under subsection (2) of this section shall be filed with the 25
county clerk and the board of supervisors prior to the coroner 26
taking the oath of office. If the elected coroner fails to satisfy 27
the training requirement under subsection (2) of this section, the 28
elected coroner shall not be eligible to take the oath of office. 29
( * * *4) Upon successful completion of the death 30
investigation training school and the CDC training, the coroner 31
shall take the oath of office, and he or she then shall be 32
designated the chief county medical examiner or chief county 33
medical examiner investigator, as provided in subsection (2) of 34
Section 41-61-57, and shall perform the duties of such office as 35
required by law. 36
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 37
and after July 1, 2026. 38