MD HB881

Establishes a Task Force on Not-for-Profit Funeral Establishments to study the feasibility and necessity of allowing not-for-profit funeral establishments to operate in Maryland

Task Force consists of 9 members: one State Senator, one Delegate, one representative each from the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maryland and the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association, and five funeral establishment representatives appointed by the Secretary of Health serving primarily African American, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Protestant communities

Task Force must analyze the number of licensed funeral directors, corporate license applications and denials, laws in other jurisdictions authorizing not-for-profit funeral direction, and the potential impact of authorizing such entities in Maryland

Findings and recommendations must be reported to the Governor and General Assembly on or before December 1, 2026

The Act takes effect October 1, 2026, and automatically sunsets on September 30, 2027, after a 1-year period