H.R. 10739 — Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act of 2026

This section establishes a grant program, administered by the Secretary through the Collaborating Office of Medical Examiners and Coroners at CDC, to address shortages of forensic medicine service providers. It authorizes grants to accredited or seeking-accreditation graduate medical education programs, publicly funded medical examiner or coroner offices, and publicly funded forensic toxicology laboratories. Grant funds may support forensic pathology fellowships, certification and continuing education for medicolegal death investigators, and toxicology training and certification, with administrative costs limited to 15 percent of each award. Payments to individuals are tax-exempt, and awards must consider geographic distribution, rural-urban balance, and rural needs.