HB383 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris EnglandRepresentative
Democrat
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Medical examiners, criminal penalties established for medical examiner retaining deceased person's organs in certain circumstances
Summary: HB383 would require medical examiners to notify and obtain consent from the next of kin before retaining a deceased person’s organs for purposes other than determining identity or cause/manner of death, with criminal penalties for violations.
What This Bill Does
The bill clarifies that medical examiners must notify the next of kin through the appropriate law enforcement agency when retaining an entire organ for additional 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 the death investigation without notification and approval from the appropriate next of kin. Violations would be classified as a Class C felony. The act would take effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
Medical examiners and their offices (including the Department of Forensic Sciences), who would be required to notify the next of kin and obtain approval before non-death-related organ retention and could face felony penalties for violations.
Next of kin and their families, who would have to be notified and provide consent for any organ retention beyond determining identity or cause/manner of death.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 22-19-85 to require notification to the next of kin through the appropriate law enforcement agency when retaining a deceased person’s entire organ or organs for additional testing to determine identification or the cause or manner of death.
Prohibits medical examiners from retaining a deceased person’s entire organ or organs for research or any other purpose not connected to the death investigation without notification and approval by the appropriate next of kin.
Sets the violation of this section as a Class C felony.
Effective date: October 1, 2025.

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