KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to California

SB-777 • 2026

Abandoned cemeteries: report.

Abandoned cemeteries: report.

Labor Water
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Richardson
Last action
2025-10-11
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 658, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact composition of the workgroup is not detailed in the provided official source material.

Report on Abandoned Cemeteries

This law requires the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau to form a workgroup by March 1, 2026, to discuss how counties can take responsibility for abandoned cemeteries' maintenance, irrigation, public works, and burial services. The bureau must submit a report summarizing their findings by June 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau to form a workgroup by March 1, 2026.
  • The workgroup will discuss how counties can take responsibility for abandoned cemeteries' maintenance, irrigation, public works, and burial services.
  • Requires the bureau to submit a report summarizing the workgroup's discussions by June 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs
  • Representatives from cemeteries, county governments, and other interested groups

Terms To Know

Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
A government agency that oversees cemeteries, crematories, funeral homes, and their workers.
Workgroup
A group of people who work together to solve a problem or make recommendations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen after the report is submitted.
  • It is unclear how counties will be required to take responsibility for abandoned cemeteries beyond discussing it in the workgroup.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-11 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 658, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-11 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-23 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 3006.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-12 California Legislative Information

    From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 3064.)

  6. 2025-09-11 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 2851.) Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

  7. 2025-09-11 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).

  8. 2025-09-10 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  9. 2025-09-10 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 3171.) Ordered to the Senate.

  10. 2025-08-21 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  11. 2025-08-20 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).

  12. 2025-07-10 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

  13. 2025-07-09 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  14. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 8).

  15. 2025-06-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  16. 2025-06-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on B. & P. and L. GOV.

  17. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  18. 2025-06-04 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1496.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  19. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  20. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 2. Page 1213.) (May 23).

  21. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    May 23 set for first hearing. Reconsideration of favorable vote granted.

  22. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  23. 2025-04-28 California Legislative Information

    April 28 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  24. 2025-04-17 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 28.

  25. 2025-04-16 California Legislative Information

    April 21 hearing postponed by committee.

  26. 2025-04-04 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 21.

  27. 2025-04-03 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1. Page 638.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  28. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 2.

  29. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  30. 2025-03-12 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  31. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  32. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  33. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 777, Richardson.
Abandoned cemeteries: report.
Existing law, the Cemetery and Funeral Act, establishes the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of cemeteries, crematories, funeral establishments, and their personnel. Existing law requires the bureau, on or before July 1, 2027, to convene a workgroup composed of representatives from the cemetery, county government, and other interested stakeholders to discuss options for ensuring continued care, maintenance, and embellishment of abandoned cemeteries, including the possibility of requiring counties to assume responsibility for abandoned cemeteries. Existing law requires the bureau to submit a report to the Legislature summarizing the workgroup’s discussions and its recommendations by January 1, 2028. Existing law repeals those provisions on January 1, 2029.
This bill would instead require the bureau to convene the workgroup on or
before March 1, 2026, would revise the list of representatives required to be included in the workgroup, and would instead require the workgroup to discuss the possibility of requiring counties to assume responsibility for maintenance, irrigation, public works, and burial services for abandoned cemeteries. The bill would require the board to submit the report on June 1, 2026, and would repeal those provisions on January 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF