In many states as we roll into the new year legislatures take seat and the business of the state gets going for the next six months or so.  And, it is no different in 2020 as we start to learn of some of the bills that have been introduced which may affect funeral service.

We have recently heard of a couple of bills introduced in different states that might affect the way funeral homes and cemeteries do business should they move forward.

Tennessee — Senate Bill 1914 and House Bill 1945 were introduced on January 28 and if passed would allow many occupations in Tennessee to practice their craft without a license.  These occupations, which include barbers, plumbers, auctioneers, tattoo artists and funeral director/embalmers among others would be able to operate without a license as long as clients knew they did not have a license and would be willing to sign a waiver that they are aware of that.

However, since this bill has been introduced, one introducing Senator, Janice Bowling, has effectively stopped its movement through the legislature.  She mentions that it was “never her intention to run the bill in its current form”.  She continued, “My intention in signing this bill was to only use it as a vehicle later in the session to address any specific needs by opening up Tennessee law dealing with occupational licensing”.

You can see the article on this bill, and what occupations it covers, here.

Kansas— Senate Bill 389 would define the word “sepulture”.  According to this editorial from the Kansas City Star, the term “sepulture” in common usage means “a final resting place”.  The article also states that the term goes back as far as the 14th century and was also used in the Bible to describe Jacob’s grave.

According to some, the re-definition of the term, according to the bill, would define the word as such, “facilities for visitation, committal or funeral services; mortuary and embalming facilities, and other such purposes and uses necessary or incidental thereto.”

What seems to be behind the bill is the contention that the new definition would “open a door that could allow corporations to ignore the recorded plat and construct buildings where they please (in a cemetery).

Mary Sabaini, legislative and communications director for Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning is quoted, “Kansans have purchased plots with the intention of having a meaningful resting place and shouldn’t have to worry about interference from commercial facilities.”

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