Kentucky 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

SB 27 — AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

Last action — signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Andy Beshear (Democratic) on April 13, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Amend KRS 72.450 to allow a coroner who is in possession of an unclaimed dead body to have the body buried or cremated; direct that the decision between burial or cremation be made by the governmental entity bearing the expense; require a coroner to be consulted before a government entity decides if an unclaimed dead body is required to be buried or cremated; establish that if Jewish descent is known, that the Chabad of the Bluegrass, or any successor entity, be contacted by the appropriate government entity to inquire if the Chabad of the Bluegrass wants to pay for the burial expense, or if known to be a member of a religious community, the appropriate government entity contact any such religious community that has expressed, in writing, a willingness to the local county coroner that it will pay for, or otherwise provide, the burial expense of the community's members. .

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

36 added · 43 removed

36 line(s) added, 43 removed.

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Previous
Latest
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/EN AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.
CHAPTER 127 1 CHAPTER 127 ( SB 27 ) AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.
[ ]at the expense of the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban- county government, whichever is appropriate.
[ ]at the expense of the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban-county government, whichever is appropriate.
(2) In the event the body is buried or cremated and interred at public expense, the coroner shall take possession of all money or other property found on or belonging Page 1 of 2 SB002720.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:49 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 27/EN to the decedent and shall deliver same to the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban-county government, whichever is appropriate.
(2) In the event the body is buried or cremated and interred at public expense, the coroner shall take possession of all money or other property found on or belonging to the decedent and shall deliver same to the fiscal court, consolidated local government, or urban-county government, whichever is appropriate.
Page 2 of 2 SB002720.100 - 1272 - XXXX 4/1/2026 5:49 PM Engrossed
Signed by Governor April 13, 2026.
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version
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Action History

  1. signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127)

  2. delivered to Governor

  3. enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House

  4. enrolled, signed by President of the Senate

  5. passed 37-0

  6. Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1)

  7. posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1)

  8. to Rules (S)

  9. received in Senate

  10. 3rd reading, passed 76-12 with Committee Substitute (1)

  11. Committee Substitute (1) adopted

  12. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026

  13. 2nd reading, to Rules

  14. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

  15. to Local Government (H)

  16. to Committee on Committees (H)

  17. received in House

  18. 3rd reading, passed with 35-0 Committee Substitute (1)

  19. posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2026

  20. 2nd reading, to Rules

  21. reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)

  22. to State & Local Government (S)

  23. to Committee on Committees (S)

  24. introduced in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 136 not signed on · 12 voted No

Sponsors (2)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (136)

136 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 136 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Pass

Passed 76 Yea · 12 Nay · 12 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 16004
Republican 591208
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 7612012
% of votes cast 76%12%0%12%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Lewis C — Yea
Adam Moore Democrat Yea
Adrielle Camuel Democrat Yea
Al Gentry Democrat Yea
Anne Gay Donworth Democrat Yea
Ashley Tackett Laferty Democrat Not Voting
Beverly Chester-Burton Democrat Not Voting
Chad Aull Democrat Yea
Daniel Grossberg Democrat Yea
Erika Hancock Democrat Yea
George Brown Jr. Democrat Yea
Joshua Watkins Democrat Yea
Lindsey Burke Democrat Yea
Lisa Willner Democrat Yea
Mary Lou Marzian Democrat Yea
Matthew Lehman Democrat Not Voting
Nima Kulkarni Democrat Yea
Pamela Stevenson Democrat Not Voting
Rachel Roarx Democrat Yea
Sarah Stalker Democrat Yea
Tina Bojanowski Democrat Yea
Aaron Thompson Republican Yea
Adam Bowling Republican Yea
Amy Neighbors Republican Yea
Bill Wesley Republican Yea
Bobby McCool Republican Yea
Candy Massaroni Republican Nay
Chris Freeland Republican Yea
Chris Fugate Republican Yea
DJ Johnson Republican Yea
Daniel Elliott Republican Not Voting
Daniel Fister Republican Yea
David Hale Republican Yea
David Meade Republican Nay
David W. Osborne Republican Yea
Deanna Gordon Republican Yea
Derek Lewis Republican Yea
Emily Callaway Republican Nay
Felicia Rabourn Republican Nay
J.T. Payne Republican Yea
James Tipton Republican Yea
Jared Bauman Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Nay
Jason Petrie Republican Not Voting
Jennifer Decker Republican Nay
Jim Gooch Jr. Republican Yea
John Blanton Republican Yea
John Hodgson Republican Yea
Josh Branscum Republican Yea
Josh Bray Republican Not Voting
Josh Calloway Republican Nay
Ken Fleming Republican Yea
Ken Upchurch Republican Yea
Kevin Jackson Republican Yea
Kim Banta Republican Yea
Kim Holloway Republican Yea
Kim King Republican Yea
Kimberly Poore Moser Republican Yea
Marianne Proctor Republican Nay
Mark Hart Republican Yea
Mary Beth Imes Republican Yea
Matt Lockett Republican Nay
Matthew Koch Republican Yea
Michael Meredith Republican Not Voting
Michael Sarge Pollock Republican Yea
Mike Clines Republican Yea
Mitch Whitaker Republican Yea
Myron Dossett Republican Yea
Nancy Tate Republican Not Voting
Nick Wilson Republican Nay
Patrick Flannery Republican Yea
Peyton Griffee Republican Not Voting
Randy Bridges Republican Yea
Rebecca Raymer Republican Yea
Richard White Republican Yea
Robert Duvall Republican Yea
Ryan Bivens Republican Yea
Ryan Dotson Republican Yea
Samara Heavrin Republican Yea
Savannah Maddox Republican Nay
Scott Lewis Republican Yea
Scott Sharp Republican Yea
Shane Baker Republican Not Voting
Shawn McPherson Republican Yea
Stephanie Dietz Republican Yea
Steve Bratcher Republican Yea
Steve Riley Republican Yea
Steven Doan Republican Yea
Steven Rudy Republican Yea
Susan Witten Republican Yea
Suzanne Miles Republican Yea
T.J. Roberts Republican Nay
Thomas Huff Republican Yea
Timmy Truett Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Tony Hampton Republican Yea
Vanessa Grossl Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea
William Lawrence Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE OF SB 27 w/ HCS 1

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 5000
Republican 32001
Total 37001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
Cassie Chambers Armstrong Democrat Yea
Gary Clemons Democrat Yea
Gerald A. Neal Democrat Yea
Karen Berg Democrat Yea
Keturah J. Herron Democrat Yea
Aaron Reed Republican Yea
Amanda Mays Bledsoe Republican Yea
Brandon J. Storm Republican Yea
Christian McDaniel Republican Yea
Craig Richardson Republican Yea
Danny Carroll Republican Yea
David P. Givens Republican Yea
Donald Douglas Republican Yea
Gary Boswell Republican Yea
Greg Elkins Republican Yea
Jared Carpenter Republican Yea
Jason Howell Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Yea
Jimmy Higdon Republican Yea
Julie Raque Adams Republican Not Voting
Lindsey Tichenor Republican Yea
Matt Nunn Republican Yea
Matthew Deneen Republican Yea
Max Wise Republican Yea
Michael Meredith Republican Yea
Nick Wilson Republican Yea
Phillip Wheeler Republican Yea
Rick Girdler Republican Yea
Robby Mills Republican Yea
Robert Stivers Republican Yea
Robin L. Webb Republican Yea
Scott Madon Republican Yea
Shelley Funke Frommeyer Republican Yea
Stephen West Republican Yea
Steve Rawlings Republican Yea
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASS SB 27 w/ SCS 1

Passed 35 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 5000
Republican 30003
Total 35003
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
Cassie Chambers Armstrong Democrat Yea
Gary Clemons Democrat Yea
Gerald A. Neal Democrat Yea
Karen Berg Democrat Yea
Keturah J. Herron Democrat Yea
Aaron Reed Republican Yea
Amanda Mays Bledsoe Republican Yea
Brandon J. Storm Republican Yea
Christian McDaniel Republican Yea
Craig Richardson Republican Yea
Danny Carroll Republican Yea
David P. Givens Republican Yea
Donald Douglas Republican Yea
Gary Boswell Republican Yea
Greg Elkins Republican Yea
Jared Carpenter Republican Not Voting
Jason Howell Republican Yea
Jason Nemes Republican Yea
Jimmy Higdon Republican Yea
Julie Raque Adams Republican Yea
Lindsey Tichenor Republican Yea
Matt Nunn Republican Yea
Matthew Deneen Republican Yea
Max Wise Republican Yea
Michael Meredith Republican Yea
Nick Wilson Republican Yea
Phillip Wheeler Republican Yea
Rick Girdler Republican Not Voting
Robby Mills Republican Yea
Robert Stivers Republican Yea
Robin L. Webb Republican Yea
Scott Madon Republican Yea
Shelley Funke Frommeyer Republican Yea
Stephen West Republican Yea
Steve Rawlings Republican Not Voting
Tom Smith Republican Yea
Wade Williams Republican Yea
Walker Thomas Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 27 do?
Amend KRS 72.450 to allow a coroner who is in possession of an unclaimed dead body to have the body buried or cremated; direct that the decision between burial or cremation be made by the governmental entity bearing the expense; require a coroner to be consulted before a government entity decides if an unclaimed dead body is required to be buried or cremated; establish that if Jewish descent is known, that the Chabad of the Bluegrass, or any successor entity, be contacted by the appropriate government entity to inquire if the Chabad of the Bluegrass wants to pay for the burial expense, or if known to be a member of a religious community, the appropriate government entity contact any such religious community that has expressed, in writing, a willingness to the local county coroner that it will pay for, or otherwise provide, the burial expense of the community's members. .
Who sponsors SB 27?
SB 27 is sponsored by Matthew Deneen (Republican) and Greg Elkins (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 27?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 06, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 27?
Track SB 27 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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