Abandoned cemeteries: report.

Senator Richardson's proposal to address abandoned cemetery management accelerates and expands California's examination of potential county oversight responsibilities. The legislation moves up the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau's deadline to convene a specialized workgroup from July 2027 to March 2026, while broadening required participation to include representatives from the cemetery industry, city and county associations, public cemeteries, and legislative staff.

The workgroup's mandate focuses specifically on maintenance, irrigation, public works, and burial services for abandoned cemeteries, with particular attention to the feasibility of transferring these responsibilities to counties. Under the revised timeline, the bureau must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by June 2026, nearly two years earlier than previously required. The provisions automatically sunset on January 1, 2027, allowing lawmakers to consider potential policy changes based on the workgroup's report.