HB1422 • 2026

Coroner qualifications; revise minimum education requirement.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-21-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO SERVE AS COUNTY CORONER BY REQUIRING THAT A PERSON SEEKING THE OFFICE OF CORONER TO ATTAIN A COLLEGE DEGREE OR HIGHER; TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN EXCEPTION REGARDING THE ATTAINMENT OF SUCH COLLEGE DEGREE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education Elections

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 effective date in the bill text is July 1, 2026, but this contradicts the candidate explanation which states July 1, 2027. The official summary does not specify an exact date.

Coroner Education Requirements

This bill changes the minimum education needed to become a county coroner in Mississippi by requiring a college degree or higher.

What This Bill Does

Requires people who want to be a county coroner after July 1, 2027, to have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited school.
Specifies that the required degree must be in medicine, nursing, forensic science, criminal justice, biology, or a related field.
Allows current coroners who do not meet this new education requirement by July 1, 2027, to continue their job and run for re-election without getting the degree.

Who It Names or Affects

People who want to become county coroners in Mississippi after July 1, 2027.
Current county coroners who do not meet the new education requirement by July 1, 2027.

Terms To Know

Coroner: A public official responsible for investigating sudden or unexplained deaths in a specific area.
Accredited institution of higher learning: A college, university, or other school that meets certain standards and is approved by an official organization.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
It specifies a future effective date of July 1, 2027, but this would only apply if the bill were to be passed and signed into law later.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Coroner qualifications; revise minimum education requirement.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1422 *HR43/R2265* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R2265
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)

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

By: Representative Karriem

HOUSE BILL NO. 1422

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 19-21-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REVISE THE QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED TO SERVE AS COUNTY CORONER 2
BY REQUIRING THAT A PERSON SEEKING THE OFFICE OF CORONER TO 3
ATTAIN A COLLEGE DEGREE OR HIGHER; TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN EXCEPTION 4
REGARDING THE ATTAINMENT OF SUCH COLLEGE DEGREE; AND FOR RELATED 5
PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 19-21-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
19-21-103. (1) * * * Every person elected or appointed to 10
the Office of Coroner shall be a qualified elector of the county 11
and shall have resided in the county for a period of at least two 12
(2) years immediately preceding the date of election or 13
appointment. 14
(2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of 15
this section, each person elected or appointed to the Office of 16
Coroner on or after July 1, 2027, shall possess a college degree 17
from an accredited institution of higher learning. 18
(3) The degree required under subsection (2) of this section 19
shall be a bachelor's degree or higher in medicine, nursing, 20
H. B. No. 1422 *HR43/R2265* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2265
PAGE 2 (OM\KP)
ST: Coroner qualifications; revise minimum
education requirement.
forensic science, criminal justice, biology, or a related 21
discipline. 22
(4) Any person serving as coroner on July 1, 2027, who does 23
not meet the educational requirement set forth in subsection (2) 24
of this section, may continue to serve and seek reelection without 25
meeting the degree requirement. This subsection shall apply only 26
to continuous service. 27
(5) The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the 28
appropriate county election officials and governing authorities. 29
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 30
and after July 1, 2026. 31