Patterson
State Government / California / Legislation / AB 2542
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.
Current stage
Passed a vote
Introduced
Feb 20, 2026
Latest action
Aug 31, 2026
Recorded roll calls
6
Civixly topics
Source subjects
Document type
Primary sponsors are listed before cosponsors and other sponsoring entities.
Patterson
Newest action first. Action language is supplied by the state source.
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.).
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.).
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
Ordered to third reading.
From Consent Calendar.
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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).
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.
Referred to Com. on JUD.
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 4795.)
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (April 15).
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.
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
Referred to Com. on JUD.
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
Read first time. To print.
The newest recorded chamber votes appear first. Your own representatives are highlighted when available.
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