23-05-2025
Medical examiner expansion bill moves to full House consideration
This story is part of KXAN's 'A Hanging on Backbone Creek' Catalyst investigation, launched November 18, 2024. As Texas' population grows, critics point to the need for more medical examiners in death investigations, instead of the state relying so heavily on its current process in most counties, where an elected justice of the peace — already assigned many court-related duties — also has the power to determine cause and manner of death with scant training and often without autopsies or forensic expertise. During our reporting, Texas lawmakers resumed efforts to modernize that antiquated system, as a nearly-forgotten mystery resurfaced with a fresh review of a young girl's strangulation case.
AUSTIN (KXAN) – A bill that would lower the population threshold for Texas counties to create medical examiner offices – expanding the number of those death investigation offices as the state grows – passed out of the House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee 10-0 Friday, bringing it closer to final passage by the full chamber and then to the governor's desk.
Senate Bill 1370, authored by state senators Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and Joan Huffman, R-Houston, would require counties to establish medical examiner offices when they reach 1 million people, rather than the current statutory level of 2.5 million.
Texas currently has a two-tiered death investigation system, with medical examiners and justices of the peace certifying the cause and manner of unexpected deaths in the state.
Just over a dozen of the more populous counties use medical examiner offices led by appointed physicians. Most of Texas' 254 counties use elected justice of the peace judges who are not required to have medical training or forensic science expertise.
The bill also clarifies that neighboring counties can establish medical examiner districts to share costs and resources. Supporters have touted the measure as one that will strengthen the state's death investigation capacity.
KXAN has thoroughly investigated the state's death investigation system, including the origin of justices of the peace in Texas and a push by experts and lawmakers to expand the use of medical examiners.
The Senate bill has an identical companion bill, House Bill 5131, authored by Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, but it has not advanced beyond a subcommittee on county and regional government. Anchia is carrying SB 1370 in the House and laid it out earlier this month in that same subcommittee.
With only days left this legislative session, the bill will face tight deadlines in its final stages. If it advances to the governor's desk and he signs it into law – or allows it to become law without his signature – it would take effect Sept. 1. Anchia tells KXAN he plans to call for an interim charge ahead of the next session in 2027 to look at how Texas can attract more medical examiners to the state, as the nation faces a shortage of doctors holding that specialty.
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