Bill > HB892

This bill allows certain individuals and organizations, including those with burial rights, descendant community organizations, and nonprofit preservation groups, to bring legal action if the owner of property containing a cemetery proposes to sell, transfer, or use the cemetery for a purpose other than its operation as a cemetery. The bill defines "descendant community organization" as a group with members who have ancestors buried in the cemetery or a cultural affiliation with those interred. It also clarifies that a "person in interest" includes relatives, domestic partners, or those with a recognized public interest in the burial site. If such an action is brought, a court must hold a hearing and can either approve the proposed action, prohibit it, or order an alternative disposition, such as transferring the cemetery to a descendant community organization or ordering negotiations. The bill also specifies that if a sale is approved, the court will oversee the process, ensuring proceeds are used for relocating remains and then distributed to parties with interests, and that the sale conveys clear title. The bill also removes an outdated provision that allowed for the sale of burial grounds in Baltimore City under specific abandonment or public health conditions.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0892?ys=2026RS