This bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning funeral, cemetery, and consumer services, introducing several key changes aimed at enhancing regulatory clarity and consumer protection. Notably, it prohibits funeral or cemetery service licensees from entering into exclusive contracts with end-of-life care providers and establishes a cap on total liability for damages in civil actions against licensed individuals or companies, set at $200,000. The bill also revises application procedures for cemetery licenses, updates educational and testing requirements for embalmers and funeral directors, and allows licensed facilities to dispose of human remains if the legally authorized person fails to direct the disposition. Additionally, it modifies the notification process for canceling preneed contracts and bars new applications for direct disposers after July 1, 2026, while permitting existing licensees to continue their operations.

Further amendments include changes to the licensing process for direct disposal establishments, specifying that they may only practice at licensed facilities and must comply with state regulations, including maintaining suitable refrigeration for deceased bodies. The bill also clarifies the disposal methods for unclaimed cremated remains, explicitly allowing scattering at sea or in designated cemetery areas. It introduces the term "prepaid funeral contract" and modifies language regarding insurance contracts, particularly for minors. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and aims to streamline operations within the funeral and cemetery services industry while ensuring consumer protections are upheld.

Statutes affected:
S 598 Filed: 497.263, 497.270, 497.369, 497.374, 497.375, 497.377, 497.459, 497.602, 497.604, 497.607, 627.404