HB 381 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Investigation or autopsy of dead bodies; notification of retention of whole organ.

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 status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Health and Human Services Substitute Chaptered · 2 edits
MINOR
This bill converts a draft substitute bill into an officially enacted chapter of the Virginia Code. The substantive legal text regarding the identification of deceased persons, notification of next of kin, and the transfer of bodies for disposition remains unchanged. The primary difference is the addition of official formatting headers, chapter numbering, and an approval date, which formalizes the law's status.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it continues to govern the handling of dead bodies and the duties of law enforcement and funeral services.
TECHNICAL

The document format was updated from a 'House Substitute' draft to an 'Enacted Chapter' (Chapter 127), including the addition of an approval date of April 6, 2026.

Minor line breaks and spacing were adjusted to fit the new official chapter layout, but the legal content and wording of the statute were not altered.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

How they voted

360
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 39
Feb 27, 2026
D Democratic20
18 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 127 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB381ER)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Health
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 1-N)
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
Assigned sub: Health
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors