SPONSOR: West
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Emerging Issues by a vote of 13 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight" by a vote of 9 to 0.
This bill adds the definition of "human and pet cemetery" to the provisions relating to cemeteries in the state, which would allow for the creation of cemeteries in which both human remains and the remains of other creatures could be interred and memorialized at the discretion of the lot holder and according to the rules of the human and pet cemetery.
This bill is similar to HB 2696 (2022).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill allows human and pet remains to be buried together, assigning certain plots of lands to be set aside for this purpose. An increasing number of citizens are electing to be buried and memorialized with their pets. This bill simply tweaks endowed care law to make clear that human and pet burials will be subject to endowed perpetual care, giving a heightened level of protection and surety.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative West; and Associated Cemeteries of Missouri.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: