California AB 2542 — Human remains: disposition.

California, 20252026. AB 2542: Human remains: disposition.

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

September 30, 2026 — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 951, Statutes of 2026.

Summary

Under existing law, the right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person vests in persons pursuant to an established priority, beginning with an agent under a power of attorney for health care, except as otherwise directed by the decedent. A person upon whom the duty of interment is imposed by law who omits to perform that duty within a reasonable period of time is guilty of a misdemeanor. If a person has been charged with first- or second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter in connection with the decedent's death and those charges are known to the funeral director or cemetery authority, existing law passes the right of control to the next of kin in accordance with the aforementioned priority. This bill, Marissa's Law, would pass the right of control to the next of kin in accordance with the aforementioned priority if a funeral director or cemetery authority knows that (1) the person with right of control was subject to a restraining order for domestic violence against the deceased at the time of the decedent's death or (2) a court determination or legally determinative document, as specified, evidences that vesting the right to control to the person would have been contrary to the decedent's best interests. The bill would prohibit a funeral director or cemetery authority from being held civilly or criminally liable for, or their license from being subject to disciplinary action for, a determination made pursuant to these provisions.

Sponsors

• Patterson — primary sponsor

Bill text

AB2542 Read version ↗

02/20/26 - Introduced Read version ↗

03/18/26 - Amended Assembly Read version ↗

06/09/26 - Amended Senate Read version ↗

06/25/26 - Amended Senate Read version ↗

08/13/26 - Amended Senate Read version ↗

09/04/26 - Enrolled Read version ↗

09/30/26 - Chaptered Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 951, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 15, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 31, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 7046.).
5. August 19, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 19, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5558.).
7. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 13, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 6, 2026Ordered to third reading.
10. August 6, 2026From Consent Calendar.
11. August 4, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
12. August 3, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
13. June 25, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
14. June 24, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23).
15. June 9, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.
16. May 6, 2026Referred to Com. on JUD.
17. April 23, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
18. April 23, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4795.)
19. April 16, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
20. April 15, 2026From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15).
21. March 24, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
22. March 19, 2026Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
23. March 18, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
24. March 9, 2026Referred to Com. on JUD.
25. February 21, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
26. February 20, 2026Read first time. To print.

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