H 2464 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to abandoned remains

This bill defines "Abandoned Remains" as a dead body not claimed by a legal authority or next of kin within 15 days. It requires the Chief Medical Officer's office to temporarily store such remains from specific facilities (like hospitals or nursing homes licensed under MGL Chapter 111) when no next of kin exists or a disposition plan is absent. The office may later transfer these remains to the Department of Transitional Assistance under Section 13 of the same chapter. The law directly affects medical facilities, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Department of Transitional Assistance in handling unclaimed bodies.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Dec 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Dec 22, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Dec 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Public Health
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sally Kerans
Sally Kerans
DDemocratic
MA
13th Essex