Most counties have either an elected coroner or an appointed medical examiner to administer the investigatory and medical side of certain death investigations in their jurisdiction.  In 2021, the Legislature enacted ESHB 1326, relating to county coroners and medical examiners. ESHB 1326, among other things, required that effective January 1, 2025, a prosecuting attorney may no longer serve as the ex officio coroner for counties with a population size less than 40,000. In those counties, the coroner may be either elected or appointed by the county legislative authority.

Coroner Requirements. Coroners, medical examiners, and all other full-time medicolegal investigative personnel in a coroner or medical examiner's office must, within 12 months of being elected, appointed, or employed, complete medicolegal forensic investigation training developed by the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) in conjunction with the Washington Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, and a practicing physician selected by the CJTC.

The training must satisfy the recommendations of the National Commission of Forensic Science for certification and accreditation, and must cover sudden unexplained child death and the protocols for missing persons.

All coroners' and medical examiners' offices must be accredited by either the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, or the National Association of Medical Examiners by July 1, 2025.

Any county may enter into an interlocal agreement with an adjoining county for the provision of coroner or medical examiner services.

For fiscal years 2025 through 2030, the Legislature shall appropriate and disburse, to counties with a population of under 40,000, sufficient funds to cover the costs of any new or increased responsibilities relating to county coroners.