# Maryland SB 0233: Business Regulation - Cemeteries and Abandoned Cemeteries - Sale, Transfer, or Government Acquisition and Disposition Maryland SB 0233, Business Regulation - Cemeteries and Abandoned Cemeteries - Sale, Transfer, or Government Acquisition and Disposition, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Johnny Ray Salling (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 545) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0233-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0233 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Business Regulation - Cemeteries and Abandoned Cemeteries - Sale, Transfer, or Government Acquisition and Disposition - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-15 - Last action: 2026-05-12, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 545 - Sponsor: Johnny Ray Salling (Republican) - Cosponsors: 6 - Subjects: Business Regulation, Abandoned Property, Cemeteries, Commerce and Business -see also- ElectrComm; ForeignTr; etc., Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Meetings -see also- Hearings; Open Government, Notices, Open Government, Permits -see also- Building Permits, Plans and Proposals, Real Property, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (348 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More people can speak for burial sites: benefit, low. The law expands who counts as a person in interest for burial‑site cases. Family members, domestic partners, and people with a cultural affiliation can be recognized. A county State’s Attorney can also recognize others after consulting a burial‑sites board or the Maryland Historical Trust. The law… - New approval rules for cemetery sales: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, you cannot sell or transfer a cemetery for a non‑cemetery use without the Director’s approval. To ask for approval, you must file the Director’s form, list all owners, describe the site and estimated human and pet remains, list unused plots, and give any buyer info. You m… - Court process to sell burial grounds: mixed, medium. A court can order a burial ground sold if it was dedicated and used for burials, burials have stopped, and the court finds a sale desirable. If a sale is approved, sale money first pays to remove and rebury remains and to buy new burial lots. After that, the court splits any remaining money among i… - New path to care for abandoned cemeteries: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the State, counties, and cities can acquire abandoned cemeteries and transfer them to descendant groups, veterans groups, or nonprofits that agree to care for them. After acquisition, the government must try to contact descendants and eligible groups to find a steward. El… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Johnny Ray Salling (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Pamela Beidle (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Arthur Ellis (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dawn Gile (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Carl Jackson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Justin Ready (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 132 | 0 | 8 | | 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 40 | 0 | 7 | | 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 0 | 2 | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (30) - 2026-05-12: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 545 - 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (40-0) (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Conference Committee Report {963125/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (132-0) (House) - 2026-04-13: Conference Committee Report {963125/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-04-13: Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Jackson, Beidle and Ready) (House) - 2026-04-13: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments (House) - 2026-04-13: Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Jackson, Beidle and Ready) (Senate) - 2026-04-13: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-13: House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Rogers, Charkoudian and Adams) (Senate) - 2026-04-13: House Refuses Recede (Senate) - 2026-04-11: House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Rogers, Charkoudian and Adams) (House) - 2026-04-11: House Refuses Recede (House) - 2026-04-11: Senate Requests House Recede (House) - 2026-04-11: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments (House) - 2026-04-10: Senate Requests House Recede (Senate) - 2026-04-10: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-09: Third Reading Passed (134-0) (House) - 2026-04-09: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments {133528/1 Adopted (House) - 2026-04-09: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House) - 2026-03-24: Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. (Economic Matters) (House) - 2026-02-20: Referred Economic Matters Health (House) - 2026-02-19: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Favorable with Amendments {963522/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-16: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-01-20: Hearing 1/29 at 3:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-01-15: First Reading Finance (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-05-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_545_sb0233e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0233e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-02-17: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0233t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-15: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0233f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_545_sb0233e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0233e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0233t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0233f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0233-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).