Counties ask state to fund transition to independent coroners for small counties

Senate Bill 5089 would direct the Legislature to appropriate funds for fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to help counties with populations under 40,000 meet new statutory requirements to have independent coroners or medical examiners. Committee staff said the change responds to 2021 legislation (ESSB/HB 1326) that removed the option for some small counties to have prosecuting attorneys serve ex officio as coroners.

What the bill would do: committee staff explained the 2021 law requires counties under 40,000 to have a separate coroner by January 2025, and that coroners or medical examiners must obtain medical‑legal forensic investigation training and the offices must be accredited by the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners or the National Association of Medical Examiners by July 1, 2025. Paul Jewell of the Washington State Association of Counties said 13 small counties now face steep start‑up costs for personnel, vehicles, offices, accreditation and round‑the‑clock readiness.

Why it matters: association testimony said the policy goal—independent coroners—is sound and improves outcomes, but the timing and costs disproportionately affect the smallest counties with limited revenue. The association urged temporary state support to allow counties to modernize facilities and hire or contract for forensic services over a multi‑year period.

Where it stands: committee staff described the bill and a fiscal‑note request; the association urged the committee to adopt temporary funding across the 2025–2030 period to ease the transition. No formal action occurred at the hearing.