HB 1194 Indiana House · 2025 Regular Session

County coroners.

Summary

Requires the coroner where the incident occurred to respond to the coroner where the death occurred not more than 24 hours after being contacted to discuss the need for an autopsy. Provides that if the coroner where the incident occurred does not timely respond, the coroner where the death occurred may conduct an autopsy and bill the coroner where the incident occurred. Provides that beginning January 1, 2026, a licensed hospital is required to have a blood retention protocol for the preservation of the first sample of blood drawn from an individual after arriving at a hospital for treatment. Specifies the required elements of the blood retention protocol, including how long a laboratory is required to hold a blood sample in storage. Provides for waiver of the blood sample storage requirement in any case where the sample is tested and cannot be retained for reasons of medical necessity in the clinical care of the patient.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled House Bill (H) → House Bill (S) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Indiana's autopsy and blood sample retention laws to clarify responsibilities between coroners in different counties and establish a 21-day blood sample retention requirement for specific injury cases. The changes aim to improve coordination in death investigations and ensure critical evidence is preserved for potential criminal cases.

Scope change

The bill maintains the same scope of applying to Indiana county coroners and hospitals but clarifies inter-county autopsy cost responsibilities and adds specific blood sample retention requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that coroners in different counties must discuss autopsy needs within 24 hours of contact, with specific cost allocation rules if they agree or disagree on the need for an autopsy.

New requirement for hospitals and laboratories to retain first-draw blood samples for at least 21 days when patients are treated for suspicious, violent, accidental, or overdose injuries.

TECHNICAL

Reformatted bill text from enrolled version to standard house bill format, including updated digest and procedural history.

TIMELINE

Confirmed July 1, 2025 effective date for the new autopsy and blood sample retention provisions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2025 · House Feb 17, 2025

How they voted

47–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 50

Mar 25, 2025

D Democratic10

8 Yea 2

80% Yea

R Republican40

39 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor

executive

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President of the Senate

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President Pro Tempore

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed by the Speaker

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 531: yeas 93, nays 0

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 485: yeas 43, nays 1

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

House dissented from Senate amendments

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third reading: passed; Roll Call 281: yeas 47, nays 0

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendment #1 (Johnson T) prevailed; voice vote

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third reading: passed; Roll Call 169: yeas 94, nays 0

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

lower

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors