Ohio House Passes Bill Modernizing Guidance for Funeral Operations

State Representative Tom Young (R-Washington Township) is pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 582, legislation that modernizes laws for embalmers, funeral directors and crematories in Ohio.

"House Bill 582 updates Ohio law to better reflect the funeral service profession today while maintaining the standards Ohio families deserve," said Rep. Young, who jointly sponsored the bill with State Representative Phil Plummer (R-Dayton). "I appreciate the support of my colleagues in passing this commonsense legislation."

House Bill 582 makes updates to the following areas in Ohio law related to the practices of embalmers, funeral directors and crematories:

Travel Protection Plans: Travel Protection Plans assist families with transporting loved ones when a death occurs 75 miles or more from the legal residence. House Bill 582 clarifies the law related to these plans by specifying that a transportation protection agreement that primarily provides or arranges for services that are related to transporting human remains or cremated remains is not a preneed funeral contract and not subject to the preneed funeral contract regulations.

Sponsors reinforced that keeping travel protection plans separate from preneed contracts ensures clarity and safeguards the family's interests while also allowing funeral homes to maintain concise contracts.

Cremation Authorization: The bill removes the requirement that a cremation authorization form includes the signature of at least one witness who observed the person executing the cremation authorization form. The update will help streamline the process for both families and funeral directors, especially given the increasing reliance on electronic authorizations.

Religious Exemptions for Cremation: Ensures religious exemptions for a mosque or temple under the law when performing burial services. Current law already exempts any church or synagogue in preparing dead human bodies for burial.

The main goal of the legislation is ensuring that Ohio law remains practical for funeral directors and responsive to the needs of families.

The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.