Relating to the liability of a funeral service provider for mental anguish damages.

SB 2027 establishes a new legal standard for when funeral service providers in Texas can be held liable for mental anguish damages. It applies only to individuals with a legal right to a decedent's body or disposition (such as close family members) who claim emotional distress due to mishandling of the body or remains. The bill limits liability to cases where the provider mishandled the body in a way a reasonably prudent provider would not have, and that mishandling caused severe emotional distress due to the claimant's close relationship with the decedent. This creates an exclusive remedy, meaning claimants cannot pursue mental anguish damages under other laws for these specific circumstances.