SB546: SB546 Death Investigations; include microscopic and toxicology studies and immunization records in the investigation of a sudden and unexpected death of a child; require coroner and medical examiners

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 45-16-32), coroners and medical examiners must complete a report on each death investigation, but the law does not spell out specific medical steps for cases involving a child's sudden or unexplained death. This bill adds a requirement: when an infant or child dies unexpectedly or without explanation, the investigation report must include microscopic and toxicology studies, a review of the child's immunization and medical records, and a look at any vaccines or emergency medical countermeasures given to the child in the 90 days before death. To make that review possible, the bill also amends Georgia's vaccination registry law (O.C.G.A. § 31-12-3.1) so that a coroner or medical examiner conducting one of these death investigations can get individually identifiable vaccination records from the state registry without needing consent from the child's parents or guardians. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date.

• Requires coroners and medical examiners to include microscopic and toxicology studies in the investigation report for a sudden or unexplained death of an infant or child.
• Requires those investigations to include a review of the child's immunization and medical records.
• Requires the report to note any immunizations or emergency countermeasures given to the child within 90 days before death.
• Amends the state vaccination registry law (O.C.G.A. § 31-12-3.1) to let coroners and medical examiners obtain a child's individually identifiable vaccination records without parental or guardian consent.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with these new requirements.

Coroners and county medical examiners, who must expand their investigations in child death cases; the Department of Public Health, which maintains the vaccination registry and would have to release records to these officials; and families of infants or children who die suddenly or unexpectedly.

Families and investigators would get a more thorough medical picture, including toxicology results and vaccination history, when a child dies suddenly and unexplainably. It also changes who can see a child's vaccination records without a parent's consent, expanding access beyond the current list of health providers and schools.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 45-16-32 to require microscopic and toxicology studies plus an immunization and medical records review whenever an infant or child dies unexpectedly or unexplainedly.
• Section 1 specifically requires documentation of any immunizations or emergency countermeasures given within 90 days before the child's death.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 31-12-3.1(e) to add coroners and medical examiners to the list of parties who may receive individually identifiable vaccination registry information without the person's or guardian's consent.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision.

1. 2026-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)Primary sponsor
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)

• child death investigations
• coroners and medical examiners
• vaccination records
• public health privacy
• death investigation law