HB 1619 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

CEMETERIES-DISTRIBUTIONS

Summary

Amends the Cemetery Care Act. Defines "average fair market value", "total return percentage", and "net income". Provides that a trustee may apply to the Comptroller to establish a master trust fund in which deposits are made. Allows a cemetery authority to take distributions from its fund either by distributing ordinary income or total return distribution. Requires an application for the implementation of the total return distribution method to be submitted to the Comptroller at least 120 days before the effective date of the election to receive total return distribution. Allows, where no receiver is available, a circuit court to order a willing local municipality, township, county, or city to take over the cemetery. Repeals a provision regarding the use of care funds. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2027.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from its introduced version to an engrossed version, primarily involving the addition of new definitions for cemetery types and rights. These changes clarify the legal distinctions between different cemetery categories (such as privately operated versus municipal) and specific rights like entombment and interment, ensuring the law accurately reflects the industry's terminology.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's definitions was expanded to explicitly include 'privately operated' and 'municipal' cemeteries, as well as specific rights like 'entombment' and 'interment', which were missing in the introduced draft.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'privately operated cemetery' to distinguish it from government, religious, or family burial grounds.

Added a new definition for 'municipal cemetery' to include townships, counties, and other municipal corporations authorized to manage cemeteries.

Added specific definitions for 'entombment right' and 'interment right' to clarify the consumer's right to select a specific location for remains.

Added a new definition for 'niche' to describe a space in a columbarium used for cremated remains.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 17, 2026

Committee

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 005-000-000

lower

Apr 11, 2025

Committee

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Do Pass / Short Debate Consumer Protection Committee; 009-000-000

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Assigned to Consumer Protection Committee

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules Committee

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor