All Roll Calls
Yes: 316 • No: 0
KansasHB 23312025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Creating the crime of aggravated criminal desecration and providing penalties therefor, authorizing the disposition of the unclaimed remains of deceased persons by district coroners and providing exemptions from liability for such actions, establishing requirements for programs of continuing education for licensed embalmers and funeral directors and authorizing the use of the word "crematory" as part of the business name for businesses owned by the same person who owns a licensed crematory.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
federal and state affairs
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Crematory owners can use 'crematory' in names
A licensed crematory operator must use “crematory operator” or a similar title with the licensed crematory. If you hold a crematory license, you may use the word “crematory” in another business name you own only if that business is also licensed under article 17 of chapter 65.
Families choose the funeral provider
It is a class B nonperson misdemeanor for a coroner to deliver a body to a specific embalmer, funeral director, or funeral home over the family’s protest. If convicted, the coroner must forfeit the office.
New crimes and penalties for desecration
The law makes it a crime to take unauthorized control of a dead body or to recklessly damage flags, monuments, cemetery property, or places of worship by means other than fire or explosives. Penalties for damage depend on the loss: $25,000 or more is a severity level 7 nonperson felony; $1,000 to less than $25,000 is a severity level 9 nonperson felony; under $1,000 is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. Unauthorized control of a body is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. Aggravated criminal desecration applies when someone takes unauthorized control of a body to hide a death or crime; it is a severity level 7 nonperson felony.
New license and training rules for mortuary pros
Embalmers and funeral directors renew licenses on a biennial schedule and must pay board-set fees. If you miss the renewal fee, your license is automatically suspended; the board may reinstate it within six months if you pay all arrears plus a reinstatement fee equal to the renewal fee. After six months, you must apply for relicensure and show you meet current standards. The board sets continuing education rules after July 1, 2026. The minimum is six hours each year, with at least three hours in person or live online; the rest may be online. If you are not actively practicing in Kansas, you are exempt until you become active.
Outdated statute sections repealed
The law repeals K.S.A. 21-6205, 22a-215, 65-1702, 65-1716, and 65-1769 so the updated rules in this act control.
Rules for unclaimed remains and who pays
The coroner must give a body to the immediate family or next of kin under K.S.A. 65-904. If no one can or will take it, and delivery is not required after notices, the coroner must arrange cremation or burial; a state or county officer may authorize this. Costs come first from property found with the body, then from state assistance if the person qualified; otherwise the county pays. The Department of Corrections pays for deaths in its custody, and veteran costs follow K.S.A. 73-304. A coroner may relinquish unclaimed cremated remains after three years by publishing a notice and waiting 30 days; a later claimant must repay cremation costs and coroner fees. Relinquished remains can be buried in a cemetery, mausoleum, or columbarium, or given to the Kansas veterans services director or a national cemetery for veterans. The coroner and county are not liable for proper disposition except for gross negligence or willful misconduct. The coroner does not have to check veteran status if told the person was not a veteran or did not want veteran honors. After investigation, the coroner may destroy low‑value property found with the body.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 122 Nay: 0
Yes: 122 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 38 Nay: 0
Yes: 38 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 38 Nay: 0
Yes: 38 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2026
Yea: 118 Nay: 0
Yes: 118 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor on Monday, April 6, 2026
4/9/2026HouseEnrolled and presented to Governor on Friday, March 27, 2026
3/26/2026HouseConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 122 Nay: 0
3/24/2026HouseConference committee report now available
3/23/2026SenateConference Committee Report was adopted; Yea: 38 Nay: 0
3/23/2026SenateNonconcurred with amendments; Conference Committee requested; appointed Representative Kessler , Representative Schmoe and Representative Meyer as conferees
2/25/2026HouseMotion to accede adopted; Senator Thompson, Senator Blew and Senator Faust Goudeau appointed as conferees
2/25/2026SenateFinal Action - Passed as amended; Yea: 38 Nay: 0
2/5/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Committee Report be adopted
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Tyson
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Tyson was adopted
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Faust Goudeau
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Faust Goudeau was withdrawn
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Clifford
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Clifford was adopted
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Motion to Amend - Offered by Senator Faust Goudeau
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Amendment by Senator Faust Goudeau was adopted
2/4/2026SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed as further amended
2/4/2026SenateCommittee Report recommending bill be passed as amended by Committee on Federal and State Affairs
2/2/2026SenateHearing: Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:30 AM Room 144-S
1/16/2026SenateReferred to Committee on Federal and State Affairs
3/6/2025SenateFinal Action - Passed; Yea: 118 Nay: 0
3/5/2025HouseReceived and Introduced
3/5/2025SenateCommittee of the Whole - Be passed
3/4/2025HouseCommittee Report recommending bill be passed by Committee on Federal and State Affairs
2/26/2025House
Bill Text
As Amended by Senate Committee
As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole
As introduced
Enrolled
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