S-3529.3
SENATE BILL 6101
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Senators King, Saldaña, and Valdez
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
AN ACT Relating to saving taxpayer money by requiring coroners to be appointed rather than elected; amending RCW 36.16.030 , 43.101.480 , 36.16.050 , 36.17.020 , and 36.24.205 ; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that county coroners occupy positions of significant public importance. By investigating unexpected deaths, coroners provide important public safety and public health services. Technical skill, and medical and legal investigative abilities are critical to perform this function. Coroner is not a political position, yet most counties are required to hold coroner elections.
Many coroners or medical examiners in the state are already appointed and serving successfully. Counties with less than 40,000 may appoint a coroner in lieu of electing a coroner, while those with more than 250,000 may appoint a medical examiner. Having all counties, including those in between those thresholds, appoint rather than elect a coroner will end partisan elections for a nonpolitical position and increase accountability over an important county government function. Therefore, in order to better steward public funds, the legislature finds that coroners throughout the state should be appointed rather than elected.