Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB698: State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors – Board Operations and Regulation of Crematories and Reduction Facilities
Status: Signed into law, April 28, 2026
Transferring the authority to regulate certain crematories and reduction facilities from the Office of Cemetery Oversight to the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors; altering the circumstances under which the Governor may remove an appointed member of the Board; altering the quorum of the Board; and specifying that the Board may take action with a simple majority vote of the quorum.
What the bill says
An act concerning State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors - Board Operations and Regulation of Crematories and Reduction Facilities FOR the purpose of transferring the authority to regulate certain crematories and reduction facilities from the Office of Cemetery Oversight to the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors; renaming the Board to be the State Board of Morticians, Funeral Directors, and Crematories; altering the circumstances under which the Governor may remove an appointed member of the Board; altering the quorum of the Board…
From the enrolled text, May 5, 2026:
AN ACT concerning State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors - Board Operations and Regulation of Crematories and Reduction Facilities FOR the purpose of transferring the authority to regulate certain crematories and reduction facilities from the Office of Cemetery Oversight to the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors; renaming the Board to be the State Board of Morticians, Funeral Directors, and Crematories; altering the circumstances under which the Governor may remove an appointed member of the Board; altering the quorum of the Board; specifying that the Board may take action with a simple majority vote of the quorum; and generally relating to the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Business Regulation Section 5-101, 5-102(b), 5-201, 5-204(a) and (b), 5-205(b), 5-301, 5-302, 5-303, 5-306, 5-308, 5-310(a) and (b), 5-311(c), 5-401 through 5-403, 5-701(e) and (f), 5-702(a), 5-707(f), 5-804, and 5-901 through 5-903 Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Business Regulation Section 5-205(a) and 5-701(a) Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing Article - Business Regulation Section 5-803 Annotated Code of Maryland (2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 5-642 Annotated Code of …