HB200 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris EnglandRepresentative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Medical Examiners; retention of a deceased person's organ unlawful; penalties established
Summary: HB200 would make it illegal for medical examiners to retain a deceased person’s organ without notifying and obtaining consent from the next of kin, with a Class C felony penalty for violations.
What This Bill Does
The bill requires medical examiners to notify the next of kin through the appropriate law enforcement agency when retaining an entire organ for testing to determine identification or the cause or manner of death. It also prohibits retaining an organ for research or other purposes not tied to death determination without notification and approval from the next of kin. Violating these rules would be a Class C felony. The act becomes effective on October 1, 2024, and is exempt from certain local expenditure approval requirements because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one.

Who It Affects
Medical examiners and their offices (including those with the Department of Forensic Sciences) who perform organ retention must follow notification and consent rules or face penalties.
Next of kin or family members, who must be notified and must provide consent for retention or use of organs beyond the death-determination purpose.
Law enforcement agencies, which would be used to convey notification to the next of kin.
Local governments and related entities, indirectly affected by the statutory exemption from local-funding rules due to creating a new crime.

Key Provisions
Section 22-19-85(a): Medical examiners must notify the next of kin through the appropriate law enforcement agency when retaining a deceased person’s entire organ for additional testing to determine identification or the cause/manner of death.
Section 22-19-85(b): Medical examiners are prohibited from retaining a deceased person’s entire organ for research or other purposes not linked to death determination without notification and approval by the appropriate next of kin.
Section 22-19-85(c): Violation of these provisions is a Class C felony.
Section 2: The bill is exempt from Section 111.05 (local funds expenditure rule) because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
Section 3: Effective October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Crimes & Offenses