Bill Sponsor
California Assembly Bill 2542
Session 20252026
Human remains: disposition.
Became Law
Became Law
Became Law on Sep 30, 2026
First Action
Feb 20, 2026
Latest Action
Sep 30, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
2542
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Author
Assembly Votes (4)
Senate Votes (2)
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.
09/30/2026
California State Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 951, Statutes of 2026.
09/30/2026
California State Legislature
Approved by the Governor.
09/15/2026
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
08/31/2026
Assembly
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 7046.).
08/19/2026
Assembly
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
08/19/2026
Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.).
08/17/2026
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/13/2026
Senate
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
08/06/2026
Senate
Ordered to third reading.
08/06/2026
Senate
From Consent Calendar.
08/04/2026
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
08/03/2026
Senate
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
06/25/2026
Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
06/24/2026
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).
06/09/2026
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.
05/06/2026
Senate
Referred to Com. on JUD.
04/23/2026
Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
04/23/2026
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4795.)
04/16/2026
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
04/15/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15).
03/24/2026
Assembly
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.
03/19/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
03/18/2026
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
03/09/2026
Assembly
Referred to Com. on JUD.
02/21/2026
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
02/20/2026
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 21, 2026 8:33:22 AM
Record Updated
Oct 2, 2026 9:23:39 AM