HB 1555

Did not advanceEmergency bill

Funeral Establishments, Crematories, and Reduction Facilities - Oversight (Ensuring Dignity and Accountability in Crematory and Funeral Home Operations Act)

Sponsor: Harry Bhandari (District 8)Committee: Health and Government OperationsSubject: Business RegulationStatus: Hearing 3/27 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Office of Cemetery Oversight and the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors to establish and maintain certain online databases and conduct certain inspections; establishing the authority of the Secretary of Health regarding staff for the Board; authorizing the Executive Director of the Board to direct an immediate investigation of certain complaints; establishing requirements for the review of complaints and investigations by the Board; providing a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for certain violations; etc.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 8FavorableFWA 11Favorable with amendmentsINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Kalyanaraman, Nilesh	Maryland Department of Health	Oral
FAV	Kalyanaraman, Nilesh	Maryland Department of Health	Oral
FAV	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bhandari, Delegate	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bhandari, Harry	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Bhandari, Delegate Bhandarilegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Bhandari, Delegate Bhandarilegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FWA	Blaylock, Barbara	FCAME	Written (PDF)
FWA	Boggs, Christopher	MacNabb Funeral Home, Cremation Society of Maryland, Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home	Oral
FWA	Boggs, Christopher	MacNabb Funeral Home, Cremation Society of Maryland, Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home	Oral
FWA	Malloy Jr, Walter Nathanlobbyist	March Funeral Homes, March Life Tribute Centers, and Marshall-March Funeral Homes, March Funeral Home of Virginia, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FWA	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FWA	oga, Maryland Department of Health /Office of Governmen	Maryland Dept. of Health	Written (PDF)
FWA	Malloy Jr., Walter Nathanlobbyist	Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Malloy Jr., Walter Nathanlobbyist	Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Dulaney, Anna	Metro Crematory, Inc. / Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home Home, P.A.	Oral
FWA	Schwartz, James	Tri County Funeral Directors Association	Oral
FWA	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Scheeler, Charles	N/a	Oral
INFO	Scheeler, Charles	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

FCAMEFWA 1

MacNabb Funeral Home, Cremation Society of Maryland, Myers-Durboraw Funeral HomeFWA 2

March Funeral Homes, March Life Tribute Centers, and Marshall-March Funeral Homes, March Funeral Home of Virginia, Inc.FWA 1

Maryland Department of HealthFAV 3FWA 1

Maryland Dept. of HealthFWA 1

Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, Inc.FWA 2

Metro Crematory, Inc. / Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home Home, P.A.FWA 1

N/aINFO 1

Tri County Funeral Directors AssociationFWA 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FWAMalloy Jr, Walter NathanMarch Funeral Homes, March Life Tribute Centers, and Marshall-March Funeral Homes, March Funeral Home of Virginia, Inc.Registered for:

FWAMalloy Jr., Walter NathanMaryland State Funeral Directors Association, Inc.Registered for: