HB 2065 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

counties; indigent deceased persons; cremation

HB 2065 requires county medical examiners to formally approve cremation or alkaline hydrolysis for deceased persons after a death investigation and to document that approval directly on the death certificate. This change specifically affects indigent deceased persons (those without funds for burial) by standardizing the cremation authorization process, which previously lacked clear documentation requirements. The key mechanism ensures medical examiners must provide written approval before cremation can proceed, preventing delays and confusion in handling remains for this population. The bill does not alter eligibility for cremation but establishes a consistent, recorded procedure for all such cases.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Feb 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 5 edits · Feb 6, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Arizona statutes governing medical examiners, indigent deceased persons, and cremation services. The changes add new provisions for dispute resolution regarding medical examiner reports, establish fee authority for external examinations and autopsies, and clarify procedures for handling indigent deceased persons and crematory licensing. Most modifications appear to be formatting and text cleanup rather than substantive policy changes, though some clauses were reorganized and clarified.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on deceased persons, medical examiners, and cremation services, but adds specific procedures for dispute resolution and clarifies the roles of community colleges and county crematories in handling indigent remains.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection D requiring medical examiners to provide evidence and documentation to a court-designated forensic pathologist when disputes arise over medical examiner reports.

Modified the indigent deceased person disposition procedures to clarify rotation systems among funeral establishments and added provisions for community college mortuary science programs.

Modified crematory licensing requirements to clarify that counties may apply for licenses on behalf of county-operated crematories.

FISCAL

Added a new subsection E allowing medical examiners to charge fees for external examinations and autopsies established by the board of supervisors.

TECHNICAL

Various formatting corrections, text cleanup, and reorganization of statutory language throughout the bill.

Floor votes · House Feb 6, 2025

How they voted

41–18

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 60

Feb 6, 2025

D Democratic27

16 Yea 10 Nay 1

59% Yea

R Republican33

25 Yea 8 Nay

75% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors