HB 1555 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Funeral Establishments, Crematories, and Reduction Facilities - Oversight (Ensuring Dignity and Accountability in Crematory and Funeral Home Operations Act)

HB 1555 requires funeral homes, crematories, and reduction facilities in Maryland to maintain adequate refrigerated storage for human remains. It mandates the Office of Cemetery Oversight to create online databases tracking violations, inspections, and complaints, and to conduct unannounced inspections after sanitation issues or mishandling of remains. The bill also establishes new reporting requirements for the Office to submit annual reports to state legislative committees detailing inspection results and complaint resolutions. These changes directly affect funeral and cremation businesses, state oversight agencies, and the public by increasing transparency and accountability in handling human remains.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2025 Last action Mar 20, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Funeral Establishments, Crematories, and Reduction Facilities - Oversight (Ensuring Dignity and Accountability in Crematory and Funeral Home Operations Act) → Third - Funeral Establishments, Crematories, and Reduction Facilities - Oversight (Ensuring Dignity and Accountability in Crematory and Funeral Home Operations Act) · 11 edits

MAJOR

The bill was amended to add new sponsors and reclassify it as an emergency bill, while significantly expanding the scope of oversight and enforcement powers for the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors. The changes include adding new board members, establishing new investigation and complaint review procedures, and modifying regulatory requirements for funeral establishments and crematories.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include additional board members and enhanced oversight mechanisms for funeral establishments, crematories, and reduction facilities.

SCOPE

Added new sponsors (Alston, Kerr, Reilly, and Szeliga) to the bill's sponsor list

REQUIREMENT

Changed the bill classification from standard to emergency bill

Added provisions regarding Board officer appointments, member removals, quorum requirements, and threshold votes for binding Board actions

Established authority for the Secretary of Health regarding Board staff

Repealed a prohibition against using State money to support the State Board

Added requirements for the review of complaints and investigations by the Board

Added provisions altering the threshold vote required for binding Board action

Added authority for the Secretary of Health regarding staff for the Board

Added provisions repealing a prohibition against using certain State money to support the State Board

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for the Board to conduct immediate investigations of complaints and establish complaint review procedures

Added authority for the Executive Director to direct immediate investigations of certain complaints

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 8, 2025

How they voted

136–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 139

Mar 8, 2025

D Democratic100

98 Yea 2

98% Yea

R Republican39

38 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Finance

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 8, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (136-0-3)

house of delegates

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Rereferred to Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Introduced

Motion Rules Suspend for Late Introduction (Delegate Bhandari) Adopted

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Committee

First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations

lower

24 primary · 0 co-sponsors