Bill > SB5089

This bill addresses funding challenges for rural county coroners and medical examiners by recognizing that small counties often struggle with absorbing new legal costs. The legislature intends to fully fund additional independent coroner expenses for rural counties (defined as those with populations under 40,000) for six fiscal years from 2025 to 2030. This approach will provide financial support to these counties, allowing them time to prepare to independently fund these costs starting in 2031. Specifically, the bill amends existing law to require the state to appropriate and disburse sufficient funds to cover new or increased responsibilities for coroners in counties with populations under 40,000. The bill maintains existing provisions that allow counties with fewer than 40,000 residents to either elect a coroner or appoint one, and counties with 250,000 or more residents to replace the coroner's office with a medical examiner system. The funding provision is designed to ease the financial burden on smaller, rural counties and help them transition to funding these services independently over a six-year period.

Government Affairs

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5089&Year=2025&Initiative=false