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LouisianaSB 2162026 Regular SessionSenate

DEATH/MORTALITY: Provides relative to medical pronouncement of death. (8/1/26)

Sponsored By: William "Bill" Wheat Jr. (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health and Welfare

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Coroners gain more sources for confirming death

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana coroners can pronounce death using their own observations or information from more on-scene personnel. Sources include coroner investigators, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physician assistants, and emergency medical technicians. Their information must come from firsthand observation of the deceased person's physical condition. For reporting, the time of death is when the death was reported or discovered. The coroner's investigative report must name the personnel whose information supported the pronouncement.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • William "Bill" Wheat Jr.

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 136 • No: 0

House vote • 5/13/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 367.

    5/22/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    5/22/2026Senate

  3. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    5/20/2026Senate

  4. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/19/2026Senate

  5. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/19/2026House

  6. Received from the House without amendments.

    5/18/2026Senate

  7. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/13/2026House

  8. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.

    5/12/2026House

  9. Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/11/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/7/2026House

  11. Reported favorably (10-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/6/2026House

  12. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    3/30/2026House

  13. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    3/26/2026House

  14. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    3/25/2026Senate

  15. Read by title. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    3/23/2026Senate

  16. Reported favorably.

    3/18/2026Senate

  17. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    3/9/2026Senate

  18. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Health and Welfare.

    2/26/2026Senate

Bill Text

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