AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 16, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

96

CHAPTER 74

Statutes of 2026

[ Approved by Governor July 13, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State July 13, 2026. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Nguyen

February 19, 2026

An act to amend Section 7526 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to cemeteries.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: no   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

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.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 7526 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

7526.

If the required consent cannot be obtained, permission by the superior court of the county where the cemetery is situated is sufficient. A court shall grant an application upon a showing of good cause.