California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 2542
Human remains: disposition.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Patterson (Republican)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· 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.
Text versions
- 09/30/26 - Chaptered· Sep 30, 2026
- 09/04/26 - Enrolled· Sep 4, 2026
- 08/13/26 - Amended Senate· Aug 13, 2026
- 06/25/26 - Amended Senate· Jun 25, 2026
- 06/09/26 - Amended Senate· Jun 9, 2026
- 03/18/26 - Amended Assembly· Mar 18, 2026
- 02/20/26 - Introduced· Feb 20, 2026
- AB2542
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 House | AB 2542 Patterson Concurrence in Senate Amendments | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 19, 2026 Senate | 3rd Reading AB2542 Patterson By Valladares | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 23, 2026 Senate | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 23, 2026 House | AB 2542 Patterson Consent Calendar Second Day | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 15, 2026 House | Do pass. To Consent Calendar. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Mar 24, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 30, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 951, Statutes of 2026. - Sep 30, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 15, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. - Aug 31, 2026 · House
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 7046.). - Aug 19, 2026 · House
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. - Aug 19, 2026 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.). - Aug 17, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 13, 2026 · Senate
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading. - Aug 6, 2026 · Senate
Ordered to third reading. - Aug 6, 2026 · Senate
From Consent Calendar. - Aug 4, 2026 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. - Aug 3, 2026 · Senate
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar. - Jun 25, 2026 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jun 24, 2026 · Senate
From 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). - Jun 9, 2026 · Senate
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD. - May 6, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Com. on JUD. - Apr 23, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - Apr 23, 2026 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4795.) - Apr 16, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. - Apr 15, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15). - Mar 24, 2026 · House
From 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. - Mar 19, 2026 · House
Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Mar 18, 2026 · House
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended. - Mar 9, 2026 · House
Referred to Com. on JUD. - Feb 21, 2026 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. - Feb 20, 2026 · House
Read first time. To print.