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Kim Reynolds
governor
Office of the Governor Chris Cournoyer
lt governor
June 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 563, an Act relating to the licensure of crematory operators and funeral
establishments, and making penalties applicable.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sincerely,
Kim rV^oMs X-Z
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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Senate File 563
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE LICENSURE OF CREMATORY OPERATORS AND FUNERAL
ESTABLISHMENTS, AND MAKING PENALTIES APPLICABLE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 156.1, Code 2025, is amended by adding
the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION . 3A. "Crematory operator" means a person
licensed by the board to operate a cremation establishment and
crematory equipment.
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 156.6 Crematory operators.
1. The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A
for the licensure of crematory operators. The rules shall
require an applicant to complete a specialized course in
cremation, approved by the board, from a nationally recognized
organization .
2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the board shall issue a
crematory operator license to a funeral director who submits an
application in a form prescribed by the board.
Sec. 3. Section 156.9, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows :
156.9 Revocation of license to practice mortuary science or
operate a cremation establishment .
Senate File 563, p. 2
1. Notwithstanding section 147.87, the board may restrict,
suspend, or revoke a license to practice mortuary science or
operate a cremation establishment, or place a licensee on
probation. The board shall adopt rules of procedure pursuant
to chapter 17A by which to restrict, suspend, or revoke a
license. The board may also adopt rules pursuant to chapter
17A relating to conditions of license reinstatement.
2. In addition to the grounds stated in sections 147.55 and
272C.10, the board may revoke or suspend the license of, or
otherwise discipline, a funeral director or crematory operator
for any one of the following acts:
a. Knowingly misrepresenting any material matter to a
prospective purchaser of funeral merchandise, furnishings, or
services .
b. A violation of chapter 144 related to the practice of
mortuary science or the operation of a cremation establishment .
c. Knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring, advising, or
allowing a person to unlawfully practice mortuary science or
operate a cremation establishment or crematory equipment .
d. Willful or repeated violations of this chapter, or the
rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
Sec. 4. Section 156.12, Code 2025, is amended to read as
follows :
156.12 Funeral directors and crematory operators —
solicitation of business — exceptions — penalty.
Every funeral director or crematory operator , or person
acting on behalf of a funeral director or crematory operator ,
who pays or causes to be paid any money or other thing of value
as a commission or gratuity for the securing of business for
the funeral director or crematory operator , and every person
who accepts or offers to accept any money or other thing of
value as a commission or gratuity from a funeral director or
crematory operator in order to secure business for the funeral
director or crematory operator commits a simple misdemeanor.
This section does not prohibit any person, firm, cooperative
burial association, or corporation, subject to the provisions
of this chapter, from using legitimate and honest advertising.
This section does not apply to sales made in accordance with
chapter 523A.
Senate File 563, p. 3
Sec. 5. Section 156.14, subsection 3, unnumbered paragraph
1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
To qualify for a funeral establishment or a cremation
e stablishm e nt license, the applicant shall submit to the board
a license fee as determined by the board and a completed
application on a form prescribed by the board that shall
include the following information and be given under oath:
Sec. 6. Section 156.14, subsection 3, paragraph e, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
e. The name of the individual funeral director in
charge, who has the authority and responsibility for the
establishment's compliance with laws and rules pertaining to
the operation of the establishment.
Sec. 7. Section 156.14, Code 2025, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION . 3A. To qualify for a cremation
establishment license, the applicant shall submit to the board
a license fee as determined by the board and a completed
application on a form prescribed by the board that shall
include the following information and be given under oath:
a. Ownership of the establishment.
b. Location of the establishment.
c. The license number of each funeral director or crematory
operator employed by the establishment at the time of the
application .
d. The trade or corporate name of the establishment.
e. The name of the funeral director or crematory operator
in charge, who has the authority and responsibility for the
establishment's compliance with laws and rules pertaining to
the operation of the establishment.
Sec. 8. Section 156.14, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended
to read as follows:
4. A person who falsely makes the affidavit prescribed in
subsection 3 or 3A is subject to all penalties prescribed for
making a false affidavit.
Sec. 9. Section 156.15, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
2025, is amended to read as follows:
c. Knowingly aided, assisted, procured, advised, or allowed
Senate File 563, p. 4
a person to unlawfully practice mortuary science or unlawfully
oper^Le a crematory establishment
AMY SINCLAIR
President of the Senate
or crematory equipment .
..
PAT GRASSLEY/f
Speaker ofÄhe House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 563, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Approved 2026
Secretary o^ihe Senate
kim'Ae/nolds 0 Governor