The bill aims to establish regulations for the creation and management of family burial grounds on privately owned property in Washington State, enhancing individual and family connections to the land. It allows natural persons to designate areas of their land as family burial grounds, provided they have the written consent of co-owners if applicable. The bill outlines specific requirements for the establishment of these burial grounds, including setbacks from property boundaries and critical areas, as well as construction standards for mausoleums and columbaria. It also mandates that property owners record interments with the county auditor and disclose the existence of burial grounds when selling the property.

Additionally, the bill introduces penalties for violations related to the construction and management of family burial grounds, including a civil infraction penalty of $500 for unlawful construction. It clarifies that family burial grounds are exempt from certain existing cemetery regulations and tax exemptions, and it allows local governments to regulate or prohibit their establishment. The bill amends several existing laws to incorporate these new provisions and defines key terms such as "family burial ground," ensuring that previously established burial sites are recognized under the new framework.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 7.80.120, 68.04.060, 68.04.080, 68.04.100, 68.05.400, 68.20.010, 68.20.140, 68.50.130, 84.36.020