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AB 2331 CA
Became Law

Cemeteries: removal of remains.

CA · session 20252026 · Assembly / House · bill

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Introduced Feb 19, 2026

Latest action (Jul 13, 2026) Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 74, Statutes of 2026.

Summary

This bill would modify California law regarding the removal of human remains from cemetery plots. Currently, remains can be removed with consent from the cemetery authority and written consent from surviving relatives in a specified order, or with permission from the superior court if relatives cannot give consent. The bill would require that a superior court must grant an application for permission to remove remains if good cause is shown. This change would establish that courts must approve removal requests when applicants demonstrate good cause, rather than giving courts discretion to deny such requests. The bill clarifies the court's role in authorizing cemetery removals when family consent cannot be obtained.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill (from the OpenStates abstract — no full text available yet) — neutral, and may be imperfect.

Official abstract

Existing law prohibits a cemetery authority from removing or permitting the removal of any interred remains, unless a permit for the removal has been issued by the local registrar of the district in which the premises are located, and delivered to the cemetery authority. Existing law authorizes the removal of the remains of a deceased person from a plot in a cemetery with the consent of the cemetery authority and the written consent of the surviving spouse, children, parents, or brothers or sisters, in that order. Under existing law, if the required consent cannot be obtained, permission by the superior court of the county where the cemetery is situated is sufficient. This bill would require a court to grant an application for permission upon a showing of good cause.

Sponsor (1)

Action history (17)
  1. Feb 19, 2026 Read first time. To print. · lower
  2. Feb 20, 2026 From printer. May be heard in committee March 22. · lower
  3. Mar 16, 2026 Referred to Com. on JUD. · lower
  4. Mar 16, 2026 From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended. · lower
  5. Mar 17, 2026 Re-referred to Com. on JUD. · lower
  6. Apr 8, 2026 From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 7). · lower
  7. Apr 9, 2026 Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. · lower
  8. Apr 16, 2026 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 68. Noes 0. Page 4681.) · lower
  9. Apr 16, 2026 In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. · upper
  10. May 6, 2026 Referred to Com. on JUD. · upper
  11. Jun 17, 2026 From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). · upper
  12. Jun 18, 2026 Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. · upper
  13. Jun 25, 2026 Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0.). · upper
  14. Jun 25, 2026 In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. · lower
  15. Jul 2, 2026 Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. · legislature
  16. Jul 13, 2026 Approved by the Governor. · legislature
  17. Jul 13, 2026 Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 74, Statutes of 2026. · legislature
Subjects
Cemeteriesremovalofremains

Full text

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