# Virginia HB381: Investigation or autopsy of dead bodies; notification of retention of whole organ.

Virginia HB381, Investigation or autopsy of dead bodies; notification of retention of whole organ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0127)) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB381-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB381
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Investigation or autopsy of dead bodies; notification of retention of whole organ.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0127)
- Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 7 (219 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

Investigation or autopsy of dead bodies; Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; notification of retention of whole organ. Requires the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to inform through written communication a decedent's next of kin, other person authorized by law to make arrangements for the disposition of a decedent's remains, or funeral service establishment or funeral service licensee if an investigation or autopsy requires the retention of any whole organ of a dead body. If the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner provides written notification to the funeral service establishment or funeral service licensee, the bill requires such establishment or licensee to provide such written notification to the decedent's next of kin or other person authorized by law to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedent's remains.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Legal protections when following these rules: benefit, medium. Sheriffs, police, counties, cities, health care providers, and funeral homes are protected from civil lawsuits when they follow these rules. They are not protected for bad faith or malicious acts. Funeral homes are also protected when they arrange with a non-kin adult authorized by this law.
- Rules to identify and notify families: benefit, low. Hospitals, morgues, and others who first hold a body must try in good faith to learn the person’s identity and tell the next of kin. If they cannot, they must contact the primary local police; if the person’s residence is known, they must notify police where the person lived. Families or other auth…
- Who can arrange a funeral: benefit, low. The law sets a clear order for who decides about burial or cremation. Next of kin decide first. If they are not available or refuse, a named person in a remains designation, an agent in an advance directive, or a court-appointed guardian may decide. If none step up, any adult who can identify the d…
- County or city recovers costs from estate: cost, medium. If a county or city pays for a funeral or cremation because family cannot, it can recover the money from the estate. This applies only if the decedent left assets that can pay these costs. Recovery reduces what heirs and beneficiaries receive.
- Autopsy holds and organ notice: mixed, low. A body cannot be transferred for burial or cremation while an investigation or autopsy is underway. Transfer happens only after it is finished. When a whole organ is kept during an autopsy, the Medical Examiner must give written notice when the body is released. If the office tells the funeral home…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | House | Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute | pass | 21 | 1 |   |
| 2026-01-20 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Actions (32)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0127) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 127 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB381) (House)
- 2026-03-05: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB381ER) (House)
- 2026-03-05: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-05: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-02: Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Assigned Education sub: Health (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-01-27: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-01-27: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-01-27: Read second time (House)
- 2026-01-26: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB381) (House)
- 2026-01-25: Committee substitute printed 26105443D-H1 (House)
- 2026-01-22: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB381) (House)
- 2026-01-22: Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-20: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-19: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned sub: Health (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104582D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216504.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216503.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194696.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194695.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-25: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093685.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093684.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091457.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091456.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090548.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090547.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084194.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084193.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216504.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216503.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194696.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1194695.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093685.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1093684.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091457.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1091456.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090548.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090547.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084194.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084193.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB381-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).