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119-hr-10739119th CongressWALLET

Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]

Introduced

Summary

Expand the forensic pathology workforce and medicolegal death investigation capacity. The bill would create a federal grant program to fund forensic pathology fellowships, train medicolegal death investigators, and build forensic toxicology lab capacity across the country.

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  • Medical graduates and trainees: Would fund at least 40 forensic pathology fellowships and set aside at least $7 million per year for fellowship-related grants.
  • Medicolegal death investigators: Would provide training and recruitment grants with at least $3 million per year to strengthen investigator capacity.
  • Forensic toxicology laboratories: Would receive grants for hiring and training in advanced toxicology methods and instrumentation with at least $3 million per year.
  • Rural and opioid-affected communities: Grants must be distributed nationwide with attention to rural areas and places with high opioid-use disorder to address local shortages.

*Would authorize $13 million per year for 2028–2032, increasing federal spending over that period.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Tax-free payments for forensic trainees

If enacted, payments to an individual under this grant program and other benefits that the individual gets from a grant recipient would not be taxable to that individual. The provision does not set payment amounts or an end date.

Grants to grow forensic workforce

If enacted, the bill would create a federal grant program run by the CDC’s Collaborating Office of Medical Examiners and Coroners. It would authorize $13 million each year for fiscal years 2028 through 2032. Each year at least $7 million would support forensic pathology fellowships, at least $3 million would support medicolegal death investigator training, and at least $3 million would support forensic toxicology lab activities. Fellowship funding would be enough for not fewer than 40 fellowships each year. Congress would still need to appropriate the money.

Rural priority in forensic grants

If enacted, grant officials would have to consider how funding is shared among States and between rural and urban areas. The Secretary would have to consider rural communities with opioid use disorder above the national average and communities that lack forensic medicine service providers. The rule directs how awards are considered; it would not guarantee funding for any specific community.

Who gets forensic training money

If enacted, only certain accredited or seeking-accreditation programs, publicly funded medical examiner or coroner offices, and publicly funded forensic toxicology labs could get grants. Grant funds could pay fellowship salaries, fringe benefits, supplies, and education costs. The funds could also pay for investigator continuing education and toxicology training and accreditation work. An eligible entity could spend no more than 15 percent of a grant on administrative costs. Some individual limits apply, like residency requirements for pathology fellows and a prohibition on fellowship recipients who are in loan default.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]

MS • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 10/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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