.png){kind=logo}
DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to improve transparency with county coroners and their potential financial interests in funeral homes and mortuaries. SB26-105, sponsored by Representatives Matt Martinez and Tisha Mauro in response to the incident with the Pueblo County Coroner, passed by a vote of 11-0.
“Colorado funeral homes have unfortunately been in the headlines for tragic abuses, and Colorado Democrats are taking action to prevent future tragedies,” said Rep. Matt Martinez, D-Monte Vista. “If a county coroner has financial ties to a death care business, it is important that that interest is disclosed to help with potential investigations and improve transparency. Everyone deserves fair treatment, even in death, and this bill is another step that Colorado Democrats are taking to make sure that our funeral homes are following the law.”
“Coloradans deserve dignity in death,” said Rep. Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo. “With the recent news of numerous Colorado death care businesses mishandling bodies, we’re requiring county coroners in Colorado to disclose financial ties to these businesses. We’re building on the work that we’ve already done to ensure Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories are following proper protocol by creating another tool to improve oversight of the death care industry.”
SB26-105 would require a county coroner to disclose if they own, work for, manage, contract with, or otherwise have a financial interest in a death care business. Under the bill, county coroners would post a notice on the coroner’s website and would be prohibited from taking an official action that would impact that business. The bill also changes the county population threshold for the certification requirements for coroners from at least 150,000 to at least 300,000 people, alleviating problems for smaller counties where there may not be enough residents eligible to serve as a coroner according to current law.
In 2022, the Colorado General Assembly passed a law directing the state to inspect and investigate funeral homes and crematories for malpractice based on complaints. A 2024 law requires regular inspections of Colorado’s funeral homes and crematories.
When the state conducted an annual inspection at Davis Mortuary in Pueblo in August 2025, it found several mishandled bodies, some of which had been decomposing for over 15 years. The mortuary was owned by then-Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter, who is alleged to have used his position to direct deceased people without next-of-kin to his mortuary. The investigation is ongoing.