The bill, H.B. No. 5131, proposes amendments to Article 49.25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the establishment of medical examiner offices in Texas counties. It mandates that counties with a population exceeding one million must establish and maintain a medical examiner's office, while counties with populations under one million are authorized to do so. This change reflects a shift from the previous requirement of a population threshold of 2.5 million.

Additionally, the bill allows for the formation of medical examiner districts, enabling two or more counties, regardless of their population sizes, to collaborate in creating and operating a joint medical examiner's office. The proposed districts must encompass the entire area of the participating counties and must form a continuous geographical area. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.