SB 598 — Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 By the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture,Banking Environment, and GeneralInsurance; Government;

theand CommitteeSenator onTruenow Banking597-02757-26 2026598c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to funeral, cemetery, and Insurance;consumer services;

and Senator Truenow 601-03232-26 2026598c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to funeral, cemetery, and consumer services;

providing that the licensee or licensed facility is not liable for any action arising out of such disposal;

revising the methodPage in1 whichof a9 preneedCODING: licensee must send written notice to cancel a preneed contract;

authorizing the Board of Page 1 of 9 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 601-03232-26597-02757-26 2026598c22026598c1 Funeral,method Cemetery,in andwhich Consumera Servicespreneed licensee must send written notice to adoptcancel rules;a preneed contract;

authorizing the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services to adopt rules;

licensure requirements and procedures.— (2) APPLICATION PROCEDURES.— (g) The proposed cemetery must contain at least 30 Page 2 of 9 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 601-03232-26597-02757-26 2026598c22026598c1 (2) APPLICATION PROCEDURES.— (g) The proposed cemetery must contain at least 30 contiguous acres.

Any and All titles, interests, or burial rights which may have been sold or contracted to be sold in lands which are the subject of the Page 3 of 9 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 601-03232-26597-02757-26 2026598c22026598c1 All titles, interests, or burial rights which may have been sold or contracted to be sold in lands which are the subject of the sale must shall be conveyed to and revested in the licensee before prior to consummation of any such sale, conveyance, or disposition.

497.375Page Funeral4 directing;of 9 CODING:

licensure of a funeral director intern.— Page 4 of 9 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 601-03232-26597-02757-26 2026598c22026598c1 (1)497.375 (b)1.Funeral directing;

licensure of a funeral director intern.— (1) (b)1.

Section 8.

Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 497.377, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 601-03232-26597-02757-26 2026598c22026598c1 497.377Section Combination8. funeral director and embalmer internships.— (2)(a) An applicant who has not completed the educational credentials required for a combination license as both funeral director and embalmer is eligible for licensure as a combination funeral director and embalmer intern if the applicant:

Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 497.377, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

497.377 Combination funeral director and embalmer internships.— (2)(a) An applicant who has not completed the educational credentials required for a combination license as both funeral director and embalmer is eligible for licensure as a combination funeral director and embalmer intern if the applicant:

497.386 Storage, preservation, and transportation of human remains.— (6) If any human remains have been in the lawful possession of any licensee or licensed facility for 90 days or more, and Page 6 of 9 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CSSB 598 597-02757-26 2026598c1 (6) If any human remains have been in the lawful possession of any licensee or licensed facility for SB90 598days 601-03232-26or 2026598c2more, and the legally authorized person of the decedent fails, neglects, or refuses to direct the disposition, the licensee or licensed facility may dispose of the human remains.

Any licensee or licensed facility that disposes of human remains pursuant to this subsection may not be held liable for any action arising out of such disposal.

The board may adopt rules to implement this subparagraph For purposes of this subparagraph, any address known and used by the purchaser or the beneficiary’s legally authorized person, whichever is applicable, for sending regular mailings or other communications from the purchaser or the beneficiary’s legally authorized person, whichever is applicable,Page to7 theof preneed9 licenseeCODING: or any address produced through a current address service or searchable database shall be included with other addresses produced from the diligent search and inquiry, if any.

If the trustee’s diligent search and inquiry produces an address different from the notice address, Page 7 of 9 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 601-03232-26597-02757-26 2026598c22026598c1 theapplicable, trusteeto shallthe mailpreneed alicensee copyor ofany theaddress noticeproduced bythrough certifieda mail,current registeredaddress mail,service or permittedsearchable deliverydatabase service,shall returnbe receiptincluded requested,with toother any and all addresses produced asfrom a result of the diligent search and inquiry.inquiry, if any.

If the trustee’s diligent search and inquiry produces an address different from the notice address, the trustee shall mail a copy of the notice by certified mail, registered mail, or permitted delivery service, return receipt requested, to any and all addresses produced as a result of the diligent search and inquiry.

personal insurance.— (5) A contract of insurance upon a person, other than a policy of prepaid funeral contract, group life insurance or group or blanket accident, health, or disability insurance, may not be carried out effectuated unless, on or before the time of entering into such contract, the person insured, having legal Page 8 of 9 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for CS for SB 598 601-03232-26597-02757-26 2026598c22026598c1 (5) A contract of insurance upon a person, other than a policy of prepaid funeral contract, group life insurance or group or blanket accident, health, or disability insurance, may not be carried out effectuated unless, on or before the time of entering into such contract, the person insured, having legal capacity to contract, applies for or consents in writing to the contract and its terms, except that any person having an insurable interest in the life of a minor younger than 15 years of age or any person upon whom a minor younger than 15 years of age is dependent for support and maintenance may obtain effectuate a policy of insurance on the minor.