Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 3 D cosponsors

S 210 — An act relating to access to autopsy reports

Last action — Senate Message: Signed by Governor April 22, 2026

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Phil Scott (Republican) on April 23, 2026.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    3 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (3 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

68 added · 53 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill S.210 clarifies that individuals not initially authorized to receive an autopsy report can now petition the court for access. They must provide a sworn statement detailing their relationship to the deceased and their reasons for requesting the report, and they are required to notify both the Chief Medical Examiner and the local State's Attorney shortly after filing their petition. This change is important because it potentially expands access to vital records for more individuals, ensuring that they can seek information related to the circumstances of a loved one's death while still maintaining necessary legal oversight.

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AS PASSED BY SENATE S.210 Page 1 of 3 S.210 An act relating to access to autopsy reports It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.210 Page 1 of 3 S.210 Introduced by Senators Hardy, Gulick and Lyons Referred to Committee on Health and Welfare Date:
January 7, 2026 Subject:
Health;
judiciary;
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner;
autopsy report Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to enable the Probate Division of the Superior Court to rule on a petition for access to an autopsy report.
An act relating to access to autopsy reports It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
§ 505 is amended to read:
§ 505 is amended to read:
(b)(1) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall disclose a decedent’s autopsy report to the decedent’s personal representative in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub.
BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.210 Page 2 of 3 (b)(1) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner shall disclose a decedent’s autopsy report to the decedent’s personal representative in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub.
(2)(A) An individual who is not authorized to receive the autopsy report pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection (b) may petition the Probate VT LEG #387771 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.210 Page 2 of 3 Division of the Superior Court for a copy of the autopsy report.
(2) An individual who is not authorized to receive the autopsy report pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection may petition the Probate Division of the Superior Court for a copy of the autopsy report.
The petitioner shall notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the State’s Attorney of the county in which the death occurred within five days after filing the petition.
The petitioner shall notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner within five business days after filing the petition.
If the Superior Court finds that the petitioner has demonstrated a legitimate reason for the petitioner to obtain the autopsy report, it shall order the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to provide a copy to the petitioner.
(2)(A) An individual who is not authorized to receive the autopsy report pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection (b) may petition the Probate Division of the Superior Court for a copy of the autopsy report.
The petition shall contain an affidavit attesting to the petitioner’s relationship to the decedent and the reason the petitioner is seeking the autopsy report.
The petitioner shall notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the State’s BILL AS INTRODUCED AND PASSED BY SENATE S.210 Page 3 of 3 Attorney of the county in which the death occurred within five days after filing the petition.
VT LEG #387771 v.1 AS PASSED BY SENATE S.210 Page 3 of 3 (iv) whether the disclosure is by the least intrusive means available, including whether and to what degree redaction of some portions of the autopsy report is appropriate;
(iv) whether the disclosure is by the least intrusive means available, including whether and to what degree redaction of some portions of the autopsy report is appropriate;
VT LEG #387771 v.1
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  • As Passed by Both House and Senate (UnofficialOpens in a new window) View text pdf
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  • Act SummaryOpens in a new window View text Current pdf
  • Introduced As IntroducedOpens in a new window pdf

Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor April 22, 2026

  2. Signed by Governor on April 22, 2026

  3. Delivered to Governor on April 16, 2026

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

  5. As passed by Senate and House

  6. House proposal of amendment concurred in

  7. House proposal of amendment; text

  8. House proposal of amendment

  9. House proposal of amendment

  10. Entered on Notice Calendar

  11. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

  12. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

  13. Action Calendar: Third Reading

  14. Third Reading ordered

  15. Report of Committee on Human Services agreed to

  16. Rep. Steady of Milton reported for the Committee on Human Services

  17. Read second time

  18. Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  19. Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

  20. Read first time and referred to the Committee on Human Services

  21. Read 3rd time & passed

  22. Unfinished Business/Third Reading

  23. New Business/Third Reading

  24. 3rd reading ordered

  25. Recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare agreed to

  26. Read 2nd time, reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Cummings for Committee on Health and Welfare

  27. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  28. Second Reading

  29. Favorable report with recommendation of amendment by Committee on Health and Welfare

  30. Entered on Notice Calendar

  31. Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Health and Welfare

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 187 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (187)

187 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 187 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 210?
S 210 is sponsored by Virginia "Ginny" V Lyons (Democrat), Martine Larocque L Gulick (Democrat), and Ruth E Hardy (Democrat).
What is the current status of S 210?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track S 210?
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