SB27 • 2026

AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

Enacted

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

Sponsor: G. Elkins
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: 04/13/26: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

What This Bill Does

AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HCS1

House Committee Substitute 1

Retain original provisions; establish that a coroner who is in possession of an unclaimed dead body and who has the body cremated shall have the cremated remains interred.

Plain English: UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/HCS 1 Page 1 of 2 SB002730.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:43 PM House Committee Substitute AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/HCS 1 Page 1 of 2 SB002730.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:43 PM House Committee Substitute AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.
1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 Section 1.
KRS 72.450 is amended to read as follows: 3 (1) (a) A coroner who has possession of a dead body or a part thereof shall make a 4 bona fide attempt of at least thirty (30) days to notify the spouse, if any, or 5 next of kin of the decedent's death.
In the event the coroner is unable to locate 6 the spouse, if any, or next of kin, or if the spouse or next of kin does not take 7 possession of the deceased, he or she may cause the body to be: 8 1.

SCS1

Senate Committee Substitute 1

Retain original provisions; establish that a coroner who is in possession of an unclaimed dead body shall make a bona fide attempt for at least 30 days to notify a spouse or next of kin a decedent's death; require that if a decedent is known to be a member of a religious community, the appropriate governmental entity shall consult with any such religious community that has expressed, in writing, a willingness to the local county coroner that it will pay for, or otherwise provide, the burial expense of the community's members.

Plain English: UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/SCS 1 Page 1 of 2 SB002740.100 - 1272 - XXXX 1/23/2026 9:16 AM Senate Committee Substitute AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/SCS 1 Page 1 of 2 SB002740.100 - 1272 - XXXX 1/23/2026 9:16 AM Senate Committee Substitute AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.
1 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2 Section 1.
KRS 72.450 is amended to read as follows: 3 (1) (a) A coroner who has possession of a dead body or a part thereof shall make a 4 bona fide attempt of at least thirty (30) days to notify the spouse, if any, or 5 next of kin of the decedent's death.
In the event the coroner is unable to locate 6 the spouse, if any, or next of kin, or if the spouse or next of kin does not take 7 possession of the deceased, he or she may cause the body to be buried or 8 cremated at the expense of the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or 9 urban-county government, whichever is appropriate.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127)
2026-04-01 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
Committee Substitute (1) adopted 3rd reading, passed 76-12 with Committee Substitute (1) received in Senate to Rules (S) posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) passed 37-0 enrolled, signed by President of the Senate enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House delivered to Governor
2026-03-27 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026
2026-03-25 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
2nd reading, to Rules
2026-03-24 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
2026-03-05 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
to Local Government (H)
2026-01-27 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
received in House to Committee on Committees (H)
2026-01-23 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
3rd reading, passed with 35-0 Committee Substitute (1)
2026-01-22 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2026
2026-01-21 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
2026-01-12 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
to State & Local Government (S)
2026-01-06 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/EN
Page 1 of 2
SB002720.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:49 PM Engrossed
AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 72.450 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) (a) A coroner who has possession of a dead body or a part thereof shall make a 4
bona fide attempt of at least thirty (30) days to notify the spouse, if any, or 5
next of kin of the decedent's death. In the event the coroner is unable to locate 6
the spouse, if any, or next of kin, or if the spouse or next of kin does not take 7
possession of the deceased, he or she may cause the body to be: 8
1. [ ]Buried or; 9
2. Cremated and interred; 10
[ ]at the expense of the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban -11
county government, whichever is appropriate. 12
(b) The decision between burial or cremation and interment shall be made by 13
the fiscal court, consolidated l ocal government, or urban -county 14
government that has responsibility for the expense pursuant to this 15
subsection. 16
(c) If a fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban -county 17
government has responsibility for the expense pursuant to this subsection , it 18
shall consult with: 19
1. The local county coroner before it makes the decision between burial 20
or cremation and interment; and 21
2. If the decedent is known to be a member of a religious community, 22
any such religious community that has expressed, in writin g, a 23
willingness to the local county coroner that it will pay for, or otherwise 24
provide, the burial expense of the community's members. 25
(2) In the event the body is buried or cremated and interred at public expense, the 26
coroner shall take possession of all money or other property found on or belonging 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/EN
Page 2 of 2
SB002720.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:49 PM Engrossed
to the decedent and shall deliver same to the fiscal court, consolidated local 1
government, or urban-county government, whichever is appropriate. Any money or 2
other property found on the body of the decedent or belonging to him or her shall be 3
delivered by the coroner to the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or 4
urban-county government, whichever is appropriate, to help defray burial or 5
cremation and interment expenses. Any excess funds shall escheat t o such 6
governmental agency one (1) year thereafter. 7
(3) In lieu of having an unclaimed body buried or cremated and interred at public 8
expense, the coroner may deliver such body or part thereof to a state medical school 9
in accordance with the provisions of KRS 311.300 to 311.350. 10