B 26-0047 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025

This bill amends the 1984 Funeral Services Regulatory Act to create a separate "embalmer" license and clarify licensing requirements. It defines "embalming" as the chemical process for temporarily reducing decomposition and "embalmer" as any person performing this service. The bill requires embalmers to complete an embalming-specific internship and pass exams, while existing funeral directors automatically receive an embalmer license. These changes directly affect current and new funeral service professionals in DC, updating supervision rules and licensing standards for both funeral directing and embalming.

Bill status in committee 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jul 2026

Council Passage

Jul 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Jul 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Engrossment · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill modernizes funeral service regulations by creating a distinct license for embalmers separate from funeral directors, redefining key terms to clarify the scope of embalming versus funeral directing, and updating apprenticeship requirements to reflect these new roles. The changes aim to improve regulatory clarity, ensure public safety through distinct licensing paths, and align the law with current industry practices.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of regulation by explicitly including embalming as a distinct practice requiring its own license, whereas previously it was often grouped under funeral directing. It also updates the definition of 'practice of funeral services' to include alkaline hydrolysis.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'Embalmer' as a person licensed to perform embalming, distinct from a funeral director.

Redefined 'Funeral directing' to explicitly exclude the practice of embalming and added alkaline hydrolysis as a recognized burial method.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new 'Embalmer's license' with specific eligibility criteria, including an embalming apprenticeship and passing the Sciences section of the National Board Examination.

Changed the title of the internship/apprenticeship section from 'Terms and conditions of apprenticeship' to 'Internships' and updated related supervision requirements.

Updated the list of individuals the Board must provide to the Chief Medical Examiner to include 'embalmers' and 'certified apprentices' in addition to funeral directors.

Floor votes · Council Jul 14, 2026

How they voted

12–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 13

Jul 14, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1

90% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 14, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (12-0-1)

council

Jul 8, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0047 by the Health Committee

legislature

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to Committee on Health

legislature

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Re-Referral published.

legislature

Jan 9, 2026

Committee

Re-Referral published.

legislature

Jan 6, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to Committee of the Whole

legislature

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Business and Economic Development

legislature

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

B26-0047 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors