MD HB893

Governmental units may acquire abandoned cemetery properties through condemnation with the intent to transfer ownership to descendants of those interred, descendant community organizations, or nonprofit organizations

Acquiring governmental units must make timely and reasonable efforts to contact descendants of deceased persons interred in the cemetery to identify potential transferees

Descendants, descendant community organizations, or nonprofit organizations may bring court action to request transfer of the acquired property to them

Any party that receives the property must maintain and preserve the abandoned cemetery; governmental units must maintain the cemetery until transfer is completed

If a governmental unit cannot transfer the property within a reasonable time, it may facilitate reinterment of human or pet remains to an operational cemetery

Effective date: October 1, 2026