Georgia CommonsHouse · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 646: Coroners; provide minimum salaries
Last action March 31, 2026 · Senate Tabled
A Senate substitute for HB 646 would raise minimum salaries for Georgia county coroners, set new pay and per diem rules for deputy coroners, and let counties extend retiree health coverage to certain long-serving elected county officers.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law currently sets minimum coroner salaries using population brackets tied to the 1990 census and gives coroners a per-call death investigation fee. This bill rewrites those rules. It updates the population brackets to the 2020 census and substantially raises the minimum salary tied to each bracket, ranging from $17,700 in the smallest counties up to $105,000 in counties with 500,000 or more residents. It also removes the old per-call death investigation fee coroners could charge in addition to salary. The bill changes how deputy coroners are paid, replacing automatic fee eligibility with a $250 minimum fee per case worked in the coroner's place and a $100 per diem (capped at 90 days a year) starting January 1, 2027, unless local law already sets deputy pay. It also lets counties give full-time, high-caseload coroners the same benefits as other elected county officials, and lets counties opt in to sharing retiree health insurance costs with certain long-serving retiring county officers. Most provisions take effect January 1, 2027, though some parts start July 1, 2026.
What the bill does
- Raises the minimum annual salary schedule for Georgia coroners, updating population brackets to the 2020 census and setting minimums from $17,700 to $105,000 depending on county population.
- Removes the old per-call death investigation fee coroners could collect in addition to their salary (O.C.G.A. § 45-16-27).
- Sets new deputy coroner pay starting January 1, 2027: a $250 minimum fee per death investigation performed in place of the coroner and a $100 daily rate capped at 90 days a year, unless local law sets deputy pay.
- Protects deputy coroners already earning more than the new formula from having their pay cut for the rest of the coroner's term.
- Requires counties to give coroners who work full time (2,080+ hours) and handle at least 100 death investigations a year the same benefits given to the sheriff, tax commissioner, or other named county officers.
- Lets counties opt in to paying 75 percent of retiree health insurance premiums for certain long-serving county officers (probate judges, sheriffs, tax commissioners, clerks of court, county commissioners) who retire between ages 55 and 65, capped by county cost savings.
Who it affects
Georgia's elected coroners and their deputy coroners, county governing authorities that fund coroner offices and set budgets, and other long-serving elected county officers such as sheriffs, tax commissioners, clerks of superior court, probate judges, and county commissioners who could gain retiree health benefits.
Why it matters
Coroner pay in many Georgia counties has not kept pace with cost of living for decades, and this bill would substantially raise the salary floor while restructuring how deputy coroners are compensated for casework. Counties would also gain new, optional tools to offer benefits and retiree health coverage to long-serving officials, at the county's own cost.
Key provisions
- Section 1 (O.C.G.A. § 45-16-7) sets new deputy coroner pay starting January 1, 2027: at least $250 per death investigation handled and a $100 per diem capped at 90 days a year, unless overridden by local salary law.
- Section 1 protects deputy coroners currently paid above the new formula from a pay cut for the rest of the coroner's term.
- Section 2 (O.C.G.A. § 45-16-11) replaces the 1990 census-based salary brackets with 2020 census brackets and minimum salaries ranging from $17,700 to $105,000.
- Section 2 adds a benefits requirement: full-time coroners handling 100+ death investigations a year must get the same benefits as the sheriff, tax commissioner, probate judge, or clerk of superior court.
- Section 3 (O.C.G.A. § 45-16-27) repeals the coroner's per-call death investigation fee provisions, designating that part of the code as reserved.
- Section 4 (O.C.G.A. § 45-18-5) lets counties adopt an ordinance to pay 75 percent of retiree health insurance premiums for eligible long-serving county officers retiring between ages 55 and 65, capped by realized salary savings.
- Section 5 sets effective dates: Sections 4 and 6 take effect July 1, 2026, while Sections 1 through 3 take effect January 1, 2027.
From the bill
“A fee of at least $250.00 for each death investigation that the deputy coroner performs in place of the coroner; and”
“any deputy coroner being compensated by a county in an amount greater than the compensation formulas provided in subsection (d) of this Code section shall not have his or her compensation reduced for the remainder of the term of the coroner.”
“the county governing authority shall provide the coroner the same employment benefits it provides the clerk of the superior court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, or tax commissioner.”
Discussed in meetings (4)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, March 24, 2026
From 0:57:39 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 646 would establish population-based minimum coroner salaries of approximately $17,000 to $105,000, link increases to state employee cost-of-living adjustments, and generally allow one deputy unless counties budgeted for more. A supporting House member said uniform pay would help recruit coroners and deputies whose on-call duties interfere with other employment. That member described thresholds of 2,080 documented work hours and 100 annual cases for full-time benefits. A Dawson County coroner, representing the Georgia Coroners Association, said recruitment was difficult and reported earning just under $40,000, with deputies earning about $16,000 each and approximately 150 cases the previous year. Members questioned county budget authority and whether local salary supplements could be reduced. ACCG witnesses said counties could already raise pay locally and disputed claims that salaries had remained unchanged for decades. ACCG counsel requested language protecting supplements only during the current term of office and changes concerning deputy pay. A supporting House member disputed counsel's reading that deputy on-call payments were guaranteed, pointing to county budgeting language. Presenters accepted some proposed clarifications, but no amendments were voted on. The chair deferred a vote for further discussions before Thursday.
Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, March 26, 2026
From 1:04:30 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: Presenters described HB 646 as combining a coroner-pay proposal with retiree health coverage. One presenter said ACCG was neutral on the coroner portion after compromises, but the meeting did not explain its salary provisions. The health-coverage presenter said qualifying county officers aged at least 55 with 16 years of service could retain county coverage until 65. The proposed county contribution was 75% of premiums, capped by salary savings between outgoing and incoming officers. The presenter argued this would encourage retirement without added county costs. Several members questioned that claim, citing rising insurance costs, financially strained rural counties and possible tax-revenue reductions. Another member supported avoiding incentives for officers to remain solely for insurance. Members also discussed the inclusion of county commissioners. One member proposed making participation optional for counties. Another warned that retaining the salary-savings cap could restrict counties’ existing ability to offer benefits. After pausing consideration for drafting, the committee adopted an amendment requiring a county ordinance to participate beginning January 1, 2027, while expressly allowing counties to adopt more generous coverage. The committee then voted favorably on the amended bill, with no count stated.
Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026
From 0:44:20 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: A presenting legislator requested HB 646 on behalf of an absent sponsor and identified it as a coroner measure, without explaining its provisions. A member selected it, and the committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.
Status timeline
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (10 actions)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Patty Marie Stinson (D, HD-150)
- Will Wade (R, HD-9)
- Mack Jackson (D, HD-128)
- Tremaine Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)
- Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
Votes
- House voteMarch 6, 2025
170 yea, 4 nay (2 not voting, 4 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 31, 2026
39 yea, 10 nay (2 not voting, 3 excused)
Topics
- coroner salaries
- county government pay
- death investigations
- public employee benefits
- local government funding