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SB 146 · 2025 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Medical examiner death certification rules

AI-generated

relative to medical examiner's certificates and medical certification of the death record.

Amends requirements for viewing a deceased body in connection with medical examiner's certificates and medical certification of the death record.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill amends requirements for viewing of a deceased body in regard to medical examiner's certificates and medical certification of the death record. This bill is a request of the department of justice and the office of the chief medical examiner.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The body of a deceased person shall not be cremated within 48 hours after his or her decease unless he or she died of a contagious or infectious disease.”
Section 90:1
“When the body of a deceased person is to be disposed of by cremation, the crematory operator, the funeral director, next of kin, or designated agent in charge of the final disposition arrangements shall present a copy of the death certificate and the burial permit or emergency burial permit [with the body] to a medical examiner in order to obtain the medical examiner's certificate.”
Section 90:2
“If the death occurred within the state but the body is being transferred out of state for cremation, the transfer shall not occur until the medical examiner has conducted such [a view and] an inquiry and has issued a certificate.”
Section 90:1
“If the death occurs without the state, the reception and cremation of the body of a deceased person shall be governed by rules adopted by the board after consultation with the chief medical examiner.”
Section 90:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Suzanne PrentissDPrimeAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader

Also: Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

6 signed in online

67% support33% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 9, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–6
    Overall
    63% yea
  • May 1, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary9:54–37:4827m 54slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2025Public hearingHouse Judiciary32:41–34:572m 16slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3
  2. Feb 6, 2025Sen==CANCELLED== Hearing: 02/06/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 8
  3. Feb 11, 2025SenHearing: 02/11/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 9
  4. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 11
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 20, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/20/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 13
  7. Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  8. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 11 P. 111
  9. Apr 9, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/09/2025 10:30 am LOB 206-208
  10. Apr 9, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/09/2025 10:30 am LOB 206-208
  11. Apr 9, 2025HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/09/2025 (Vote 10-6; RC) HC 22 P. 13
  12. Apr 16, 2025HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  13. May 1, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 10
  14. May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  15. May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
  16. Jun 10, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/10/2025; Chapter 0090; Effective 08/09/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.