Hawaii HB1481 requires disposal of human remains within sixty days
Summary
Hawaii passed HB1481 requiring cemeteries, crematories, funeral establishments, hydrolysis facilities, and mortuaries to dispose of human remains within 60 days from either burial-transit permit issuance or submission of an affidavit for permit amendment. The bill was passed by the House on March 10, 2026, and by the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection committee on April 7, 2026. Death care service providers in Hawaii must comply with the new disposition timeline requirements.
What changed
Hawaii enacted HB1481 establishing a 60-day deadline for the disposition of human remains by death care facilities. The bill requires cemeteries, crematories, funeral establishments, hydrolysis facilities, and mortuaries to complete disposal no later than 60 days from issuance of a burial-transit permit or submission of a permit amendment affidavit. The effective date appears as July 1, 3000 in the document, which may be a clerical error.\n\nAffected entities including funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, and mortuaries must establish compliant procedures to ensure timely disposition of remains. Non-compliance could result in regulatory action by the Hawaii Department of Health, which oversees death care facility licensing and practices. Operators should audit current workflows and implement systems to track permit issuance dates and amendment submissions against the 60-day compliance window.
What to do next
- Update operational procedures to ensure disposition of remains within the 60-day deadline
- Implement tracking systems for burial-transit permits and amendment affidavits to monitor compliance timelines
- Review and modify intake and scheduling processes to meet the new 60-day disposition requirement
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Hawaii / HB1481 Passed HB1481 House Bill Passed 2026-03-10
Relating To Human Remains.
Requires any cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, hydrolysis facility, or mortuary to dispose of the remains of a dead human body no later than sixty days from the later of either the date a burialtransit permit has been issued or the date of an affidavit for amendment of the permit has been submitted. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Bill Details
State Hawaii
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_ind...
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Sponsors
Jenna Takenouchi (Rep - D)
Action History
2026-04-07 S The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fukunaga ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. 2026-04-06 S Public notice requirement waived pursuant to Senate Rule 21. 2026-04-06 S The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 04-07-26 9:10AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. 2026-04-06 S The committee on CPN has deleted the measure from decision making scheduled on 04-07-26 9:25AM; CR 229 & Videoconference. 2026-04-02 S The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 9:25AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. 2026-04-01 S Re-Referred to CPN. 2026-03-12 S Referred to HHS, CPN. 2026-03-12 S Passed First Reading. 2026-03-12 S Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 230). 2026-03-10 H Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. 2026-03-06 H Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26. 2026-03-06 H Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1063-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. 2026-02-24 H The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. 2026-02-20 H Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 02-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2026-02-17 H Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Alcos voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3). 2026-02-17 H Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 307-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. 2026-01-30 H The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and Excused: none. 2026-01-26 H Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Friday, 01-30-26 10:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. 2025-12-08 Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. 2025-01-27 H Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 4 2025-01-23 H Introduced and Pass First Reading.
Votes
2026-04-07 Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection: Passed, With Amendments Yea: 4 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2025-01-27 H Health 2026-02-17 H Consumer Protection & Commerce 2026-03-12 S Health and Human Services 2026-04-01 S Commerce and Consumer Protection
Bill Text Versions
2025-01-23 Introduced 2026-02-13 Amended 2026-03-06 Amended
Subjects
DOH Disposition of Remains Burial-transit Permit Funeral Establishment Mortuary Cemetery Crematory Hydrolysis Facility Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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