# Kentucky SB 27: AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies. Kentucky SB 27, AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Greg Elkins (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127)) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB27-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky SB 27 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-06 - Last action: 2026-04-13, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127) - Sponsor: Greg Elkins (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Cemeteries And Burials, Coroners, Counties, Deaths, Local Government, Religion, Local Mandate - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (113 yes, 12 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Unclaimed bodies may go to medical schools: benefit, low. Instead of a public burial or cremation, the coroner may give an unclaimed body or part to a state medical school, as allowed by state law. This offers another way to handle unclaimed remains and can avoid public costs. - Decedent’s money helps pay final costs: mixed, low. When the government pays to bury or to cremate and inter a body, the coroner must collect the decedent’s money or property. The coroner gives it to the local government to help cover those costs. Any money left after one year goes to that government. - Unclaimed bodies: 30-day notice, local decision: mixed, low. A coroner must try for at least 30 days to notify a spouse or next of kin. If no one claims the body, the local government pays for burial or for cremation and interment. That government, not the coroner, chooses the method after consulting the county coroner. If the decedent is known to belong to… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Greg Elkins (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Matthew Deneen (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-01 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 76 | 12 | | | 2026-04-01 | Senate | passed | pass | 37 | 0 | | ## Actions (24) - 2026-04-13: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127) - 2026-04-01: delivered to Governor - 2026-04-01: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (Senate) - 2026-04-01: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-01: passed 37-0 (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-04-01: posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-04-01: to Rules (S) (Senate) - 2026-04-01: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-01: 3rd reading, passed 76-12 with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-04-01: Committee Substitute (1) adopted (House) - 2026-03-27: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026 (House) - 2026-03-25: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-03-24: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (House) - 2026-03-05: to Local Government (H) (House) - 2026-01-27: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-01-27: received in House (House) - 2026-01-23: 3rd reading, passed with 35-0 Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-01-22: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2026 (Senate) - 2026-01-22: 2nd reading, to Rules (Senate) - 2026-01-21: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1) (Senate) - 2026-01-12: to State & Local Government (S) (Senate) - 2026-01-06: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-01-06: introduced in Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-04-01: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb27/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2025-12-10: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb27/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) - HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb27/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb27/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [HB 727: AN ACT relating to education and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB727-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB27-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).