Pueblo legislators quietly rolled back their own accountability bills for coroners

PUEBLO, CO - Pueblo County legislators Nick Hinrichsen, Matthew Martinez, and Tisha Mauro are backing amendments to legislation that strip enhanced coroner qualification requirements and gut public disclosure rules. These are the exact protections the bills were designed to create. A second reading is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 at 9:00 a.m.

HB24-1100 and SB26-105 were originally introduced in response to a serious breakdown at the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office that drew statewide attention, triggered investigations, and prompted emergency action by the Governor. That failure is now costing taxpayers nearly $1 million. Instead of strengthening oversight, these amendments lower standards and remove key safeguards at a time when stronger accountability is needed.

What the Amendments Change

• Qualification threshold raised. The population threshold for enhanced coroner requirements was raised from 150,000 to 300,000 residents, exempting Pueblo County entirely. Candidates can now run for coroner without meeting the professional standards originally designed for counties of Pueblo’s size.
• National certification eliminated. By raising the population threshold to 300,000 residents, Pueblo County coroners are no longer required to hold certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. This is the national gold standard for death investigation and confirms competency in forensic evidence handling, legal reporting, and determining cause and manner of death.
• Financial Disclosure rules weakened. Coroners may now post conflict-of-interest disclosures online with no required deadline. Requirements to publicly report referrals to funeral homes, crematories, and death care businesses have been eliminated, creating conditions where financial conflicts may go undetected.

Pueblo County coroners handle unattended deaths, overdoses, homicides, industrial accidents, and mass casualty incidents. These cases directly shape criminal investigations, public health reporting, and families' legal rights. This is not a small-county workload, and it should not have small-county standards. Real reform means professional standards, enforceable disclosure, and protections that put families and public safety first.

Pueblo residents are urged to contact their state legislators and the bill’s sponsors before the April 8 second reading to request these amendments be removed. Real reform requires professional qualification standards, clear and enforceable disclosure rules, and safeguards that put public safety, families, and trust first. 

Contacts Your Legislators:

Nick Hinrichsen: 303-866-4878
nick.hinrichsen.senate@coleg.gov

Tisha Mauro: 303-866-2968
tisha.mauro.house@coleg.gov

Matthew Martinez: 303-866-2916
matthew.martinez.house@coleg.gov

Supporting Links

• SB26-105 County Executive Officer Disclosures | Colorado General Assembly
• Amendment to HB24-1100
• HB24-1100 Coroner Qualifications | Colorado General Assembly

This statement is not issued by, endorsed by, or representative of the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office or Pueblo County government.