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 of more than 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 broadens the scope for smaller counties to create such offices, which was previously limited.

Additionally, the bill allows for the formation of medical examiner districts by two or more counties, regardless of their population sizes. These counties can enter into agreements to jointly operate and maintain a medical examiner's office, provided that the district encompasses the entire area of the participating counties and forms a continuous region. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.