Bill > SB722

This bill establishes a Task Force on Not-for-Profit Funeral Establishments to study whether it is possible and necessary to create funeral homes that operate as non-profit organizations in Maryland. The task force will be comprised of members from the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, representatives from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maryland and Environs and the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, and individuals appointed by the Secretary of Health representing various religious and ethnic communities served by funeral establishments. The State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors will provide staff support, and task force members will not receive compensation but can be reimbursed for expenses. The task force will analyze data on funeral director licenses, denied applications, and laws in other states regarding non-profit funeral direction, ultimately assessing the potential impact and feasibility of such establishments in Maryland. The task force is required to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2026, and the bill will take effect on October 1, 2026, remaining in effect for one year.