MissouriMeasure ranks who may control final arrangements after death
The measure would rank who may arrange a person's final disposition and require background checks for adults serving at qualifying residential camps.
What it does
The measure would set a priority order for people who may choose burial, cremation, or another final arrangement, while requiring attention to costs, notice, and other laws.
Residential camps would screen adult staff and volunteers before service, including sex-offender records and recent state criminal records; certain records would bar service.
Argument forClear priority rules could help families and funeral providers resolve disputes over who may arrange a person's burial or cremation.
Argument againstThe rules could prevent some adult camp workers or volunteers from serving based on listed convictions or registry status, even when the camp knows limited facts.
More detail
The listed next-of-kin would control a deceased person's burial, cremation, or other final arrangements. The rules apply to deceased people and to people claiming authority to arrange their final disposition. The person must be at least eighteen, mentally competent, and willing to take responsibility for disposition costs. The priority list generally starts with a specifically authorized attorney, certain military designations, and a surviving spouse, followed by children, parents or guardians, siblings, other relatives, a person paying the costs, and finally the county coroner or medical examiner. The next-of-kin must follow other applicable laws and health codes. A person with a lower priority who knows of someone with a higher priority must give notice before making final arrangements. A higher-priority person may lose that right by not objecting within forty-eight hours after proper notice or by signing a dated waiver. No effective date or other start date is stated for these rules.
Residential camps would have to require criminal background checks for staff members and volunteers who are at least eighteen before they begin work or service. The rule covers programs that operate from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for at least two consecutive nights. Checks must search the National Crime Information Center's national sex-offender registry. When available, checks must also search Missouri and each state where the person lived during the prior five years for state criminal and sex-offender records. A person would be ineligible if registered, or required to register, as a sex offender, or if convicted of listed offenses or similar offenses known to the camp. The background check must occur before the staff member or volunteer begins employment or volunteer service.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 13Delivered to Secretary of State (G)Latest
- Jul 13Approved by Governor Mike Kehoe (G)Became Law
- May 28Delivered to Governor
- May 28Signed by President Pro Tem (S)
- May 28Signed by House Speaker (H)
- May 21House Message (H)
- May 15Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 139 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 1Major
- Vote recorded Third Read and Passed with Amendments (S) - SA 1 - AYES: 29 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 139 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- May 15House Adopts (H)
- May 15Taken Up
- May 15Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- May 15Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- May 15Referred: Fiscal Review(H)Minor
- May 15Reported to the House with... (H) - SS, as amended
- May 15Third Read and Passed with Amendments (S) - SA 1 - AYES: 29 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0Passed Senate
- May 15SS Adopted (S)
- May 15SS OfferedMinor
- May 15Taken Up for Third Reading (S)Minor
- May 7Placed on Informal Calendar
- Apr 28SCS Reported Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 15SCS Voted Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 15Executive Session Held (S)
- Apr 8Public Hearing Held (S)
- Apr 2Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 8:00 a.m., Senate Committee Room 1 - 1st Floor
- Mar 31Second read and referred: Families, Seniors and Health(S)
- Mar 19Reported to the Senate and First Read (S)Minor
- Mar 16Delivered to the Senate
- Mar 12Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 140 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Passed House
- Vote recorded Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 140 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Taken Up for Third Reading (H)Minor
- Mar 12Placed on the Informal Third Reading Calendar (H)Minor
- Mar 10Perfected with Amendments (H) - HA 1, adopted
- Mar 10HCS Adopted (H)
- Mar 10Title of Bill - Agreed To
- Mar 10Taken Up for Perfection (H)
- Mar 9Placed on the Informal Perfection Calendar (H)
- Feb 23Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Feb 23Executive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 19Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)Minor
- Feb 11HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 14 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- Vote recorded HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 14 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10HCS Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Feb 10Executive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 3Public Hearing Completed (H)
- Jan 22Referred: Children and Families(H)Minor
- Jan 8Read Second Time (H)Minor
- Jan 7Read First Time (H)
- 2025
- Dec 1Prefiled (H)Introduced
Public SafetyConsumer ProtectionCriminal Justice