GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1003
Short Title: Board of Funeral Service Modifications. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives B. Jones, Miller, Pyrtle, and Colvin (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Regulatory Reform, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H1003 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MODIFY THE LAWS OF FUNERAL SERVICE AND CREMATION. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
4
PART I. CREMATIONS AND ALKALINE HYDROLYS IS 5
SECTION 1.1.(a) The following provisions are recodified as follows: 6
Former Citation Recodified Citation 7
90-210.121(1) 90-210.121(1a) 8
90-210.121(17a) 90-210.121(17c) 9
90-210.136(a)(1) 90-210.121(1) 10
90-210.136(a)(2) 90-210.121(17a) 11
90-210.136(a)(3) 90-210.121(17b) 12
90-210.136(a)(4) 90-210.121(17d). 13
SECTION 1.1.(b) The title of Article 13F of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes 14
reads as rewritten: 15
"Cremations.Cremations and Alkaline Hydrolysis." 16
SECTION 1.1.(c) G.S. 90-210.121, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, 17
reads as rewritten: 18
"§ 90-210.121. Definitions. 19
As used in this Article, unless the context requires otherwise: 20
(1) Alkaline hydrolysis. – The technical process using water, heat, and other 21
chemicals to destroy, dissolve, or reduce human remains to simpler or 22
essential elements. 23
(1a) "Authorizing agent" means a Authorizing agent. – A person or entity legally 24
entitled to authorize the cremation arrange for the final disposition of human 25
remains in accordance with G.S. 90-210.124.G.S. 130A-420. 26
(2) "Board" means the Board. – The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service. 27
(3) "Body parts" means limbs Body parts. – Any of the following: 28
a. Limbs or other portions of the anatomy that are removed from a person 29
or human remains for medical purposes during treatment, surgery, 30
biopsy, autopsy, or medical research; or human research. 31
b. Human bodies or any portion thereof that have been donated to science 32
for medical purposes. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1003-First Edition
(4) "Casket" means a Casket. – A rigid container that is designed for the 1
encasement of human remains and that is usually constructed of wood, metal, 2
or other material and ornamented and lined with fabric, and which may or may 3
not be combustible. 4
(5) "Certificate of cremation" means a Certificate of cremation. – A certificate 5
provided by the crematory manager who performed the cremation containing, 6
at a minimum, all of the following information: 7
a. Name of decedent;decedent. 8
b. Date of cremation;cremation. 9
c. Name and address of crematory; andcrematory. 10
d. Signature of crematory manager or person acting as crematory 11
manager. 12
(6) "Cremated remains" means all Cremated remains. – All human remains 13
recovered after the completion of the cremation process, including 14
pulverization which leaves only bone fragments reduced to unidentifiable 15
dimensions. 16
(7) "Cremation" means the Cremation. – The technical process, using intense heat 17
and flame, that reduces human remains to bone fragments. Cremation includes 18
the processing and may include the pulverization of the bone fragments. 19
(8) "Cremation chamber" means the Cremation chamber. – The enclosed space 20
within which the cremation process takes place. Cremation chambers covered 21
by this Article shall be used exclusively for the cremation of human remains. 22
(9) "Cremation container" means the Cremation container. – The container in 23
which the human remains are transported to the crematory or placed therein 24
upon arrival for storage and placement in a cremation chamber for cremation. 25
A cremation container shall comply with all of the following standards: 26
a. Be composed of readily combustible materials suitable for 27
cremation;cremation. 28
b. Be able to be closed in order to provide a complete covering for the 29
human remains;remains. 30
c. Be resistant to leakage or spillage;spillage. 31
d. Be rigid enough for handling with ease;ease. 32
e. Be able to provide protection for the health, safety, and personal 33
integrity of crematory personnel; andpersonnel. 34
f. Be easily identifiable. The covering of the cremation container shall 35
contain all of the following information: 36
1. The name of the decedent;decedent. 37
2. The date of death;death. 38
3. The sex of the decedent; anddecedent. 39
4. The age at death of the decedent. 40
(10) "Cremation interment container" means a Cremation interment container. – A 41
rigid outer container composed of concrete, steel, fiberglass, or some similar 42
material in which an urn is placed prior to being interred in the ground and 43
which is designed to withstand prolonged exposure to the elements and to 44
support the earth above the urn. 45
(11) "Crematory" or "crematorium" means the Crematory or crematorium. – The 46
building or buildings or portion of a building on a single site that houses the 47
cremation equipment, the holding and processing facilities, the business 48
office, and other parts of the crematory business. A crematory must comply 49
with all applicable public health and environmental laws and rules and must 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 3
contain the equipment and meet all of the standards established by the rules 1
adopted by the Board. 2
(12) "Crematory licensee" means the Crematory licensee. – The individual or legal 3
entity that is licensed by the Board holds a license to operate a crematory and 4
perform cremations. 5
(13) "Crematory manager" means the Crematory manager. – The person who is 6
responsible for the daily management and operation of the crematory. A 7
crematory manager must either be licensed to practice funeral directing or 8
funeral service and be qualified as a crematory technician or must obtain a 9
crematory manager permit issued by the Board. In order to receive a crematory 10
manager permit, a person must:must meet all of the following criteria: 11
a. Be at least 18 years of age. 12
b. Be of good moral character. 13
c. Be qualified as a crematory technician. 14
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a crematory that is licensed by 15
the Board prior to January 1, 2004, and as of that date is not managed by a 16
crematory manager who is licensed to practice funeral directing or funeral 17
service, or who has a crematory manager permit, may continue to be managed 18
by a crematory manager who is not licensed to practice funeral directing or 19
funeral service or who does not have a crematory manager permit so long as 20
there is no sale, transfer, devise, gift, or any other disposal of a controlling 21
interest in the crematory. 22
(13a) "Cremation society" means any Cremation society. – Any person, firm, 23
corporation, or organization that is affiliated with a crematory licensed under 24
this Article and provides cremation information to consumers. 25
(14) "Crematory technician" means any Crematory technician. – Any employee of 26
a crematory licensee who has a certificate confirming that the crematory 27
technician has attended a training course approved by the Board. The Board 28
shall recognize the cremation certificate program that is conducted by the 29
Cremation Association of North America (CANA). 30
(15) "Final disposition" means the Final disposition. – The cremation and the 31
ultimate interment, entombment, inurnment, or scattering of the cremated 32
remains or the return of the cremated remains by the crematory licensee to the 33
authorizing agent or such agent's designee as provided in this Article. Upon 34
the written direction of the authorizing agent, cremated remains may take 35
various forms. 36
(16) "Holding and processing facility" means an Holding and processing facility. 37
– An area or areas that are designated for the retention of human remains prior 38
to, and the retention and processing of cremated remains after, cremation; that 39
comply with all applicable public health and environmental laws; preserve the 40
health and safety of the crematory technician and other personnel of the 41
crematory; and that are secure from access by anyone other than authorized 42
persons. A holding facility and processing facility must be located in a 43
crematory. 44
(17) "Human remains" means the Human remains. – The body of a deceased 45
person, including a separate human fetus, regardless of the length of gestation, 46
or body parts. 47
(17a) Hydrolysis container. – A container, other than a casket, designed to enclose 48
human remains and made of suitable material to be easily destroyed during 49
hydrolysis and to resist spillage and leakage. A hydrolysis container may be a 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 1003-First Edition
cremation container or any other container that meets the requirements of this 1
subdivision. 2
(17b) Hydrolysis licensee. – A person or entity licensed to hydrolyze human remains 3
and perform hydrolysis. 4
(17c) "Initial container" means a Initial container. – A receptacle for cremated 5
remains, for which the intended use and design is to hold cremated remains, 6
usually composed of cardboard, plastic, or similar material that can be closed 7
in a manner so as to prevent the leakage or spillage of the cremated remains 8
or the entrance of foreign material and is a single container of sufficient size 9
to hold the cremated remains. 10
(17d) Liquid waste. – Any liquid remaining after hydrolysis that does not contain 11
any trace elements of human tissue. 12
(18) "Niche" means a Niche. – A compartment or cubicle for the memorialization 13
or final disposition of an urn or container containing cremated remains. 14
(19) "Processing" means the Processing. – The removal of bone fragments from 15
the cremation chamber for the reduction in size, labeling and packaging, and 16
placing in an urn or initial container. 17
(20) "Pulverization" means the Pulverization. – The reduction of identifiable or 18
unidentifiable bone fragments after the completion of the cremation to 19
granulated particles by mechanical means. 20
(20a) Reduced human remains. – The remains of a human body after completion of 21
reduction. 22
(20b) Reduction. – Alkaline hydrolysis, cremation, and any other method of final 23
disposition of human remains authorized by the Board. 24
(20c) Reduction container. – A container, including a cremation container or any 25
other container that meets the requirements of this subdivision other than a 26
casket, designed to enclose human remains and made of suitable material to 27
be easily destroyed during alkaline hydrolysis or cremation and to resist 28
spillage and leakage. 29
(21) "Scattering area" means an Scattering area. – An area permitted by North 30
Carolina law including, but not limited to, an an area designated by a cemetery 31
and located on dedicated cemetery property where cremated remains that have 32
been removed from their container can be mixed with or placed on top of the 33
soil or ground cover. 34
(22) Repealed by Session Laws 2007-531, s. 18, effective August 31, 2007. 35
(23) "Urn" means a Urn. – A receptacle designed to permanently encase the 36
cremated remains." 37
SECTION 1.2. G.S. 90-210.122 (Crematory Authority established.) is repealed. 38
SECTION 1.3. Section 1.2 of this act becomes effective October 1, 2025. The 39
members appointed to the Crematory Authority shall serve out their respective terms until 40
October 1, 2025, at which point, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the members' 41
respective terms will expire. Members shall be eligible for per diem and necessary travel and 42
subsistence expenses in accordance with G.S. 93B-5 for any eligible expenses incurred up to 43
October 1, 2025. The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service shall ensure that any unpaid, 44
eligible expenses pursuant to G.S. 90-210.122(d) shall be paid to members of the Crematory 45
Authority accordingly. 46
SECTION 1.4. G.S. 90-210.123 reads as rewritten: 47
"§ 90-210.123. Licensing and inspection. 48
(a) Any person doing business in this State, or any cemetery, funeral establishment, 49
corporation, partnership, joint venture, voluntary organization, or any other entity may erect, 50
maintain, and operate a crematory in this State and may provide the necessary employees, 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 5
facilities, structure, and equipment for the cremation of human remains, provided that the person 1
or entity has secured a license as a crematory licensee in accordance with this Article. 2
(a1) A crematory operating under this Article is required to have a crematory manager. A 3
crematory manager may manage multiple crematories within a 50-mile radius of each other. A 4
crematory may operate for a period not to exceed 30 days without a crematory manager due to 5
the crematory manager's termination or cessation of employment if all of the following criteria 6
are met: 7
(1) The crematory manager was the only person employed that is eligible to serve 8
as a crematory manager at the time of the crematory manager's end of 9
employment. 10
(2) The crematory licensee retains one or more crematory technicians to perform 11
cremations. 12
(3) The crematory licensee registers the name of the crematory technicians with 13
the Board. 14
(b) A crematory may be constructed on or adjacent to any cemetery, on or adjacent to any 15
funeral establishment that is zoned commercial or industrial, or at any other location consistent 16
with local zoning and environmental regulations. 17
(c) Application for a license as a crematory licensee shall be made on forms furnished 18
and prescribed by the Board. The Board shall inspect the premises, facilities, structure, and 19
equipment to be used as a crematory, confirm that the crematory manager's and crematory 20
technician's educational certificate is valid, and issue a renewable license to the crematory 21
licensee if the applicant meets all the requirements and standards of the Board and the 22
requirements of this Article. 23
(d) Every application for licensure shall identify the crematory manager and all crematory 24
technicians employed by the crematory licensee providing that nothing in this Article shall 25
prohibit the designation and identification by the crematory licensee of one individual to serve 26
as a crematory manager and crematory technician. Each crematory licensed in North Carolina 27
shall employ on a full-time basis at least one crematory technician. Every application for 28
licensure and renewal thereof shall include all each crematory technicians' technician's 29
educational certificates. certificate. The crematory licensee shall keep the Board informed at all 30
times of the names and addresses of the crematory manager and all crematory technicians. In the 31
event a licensee is in the process of replacing its only crematory technician at the time of license 32
renewal, the licensee may continue to operate the crematory for a reasonable time period not to 33
exceed 180 30 days. 34
(d1) Crematory licensees that offer at-need cremation goods and services to the public 35
shall comply with the standards set forth in Funeral Industry Practices, 16 C.F.R. § 453 (1984), 36
as amended. 37
(e) All licenses and permits shall expire on the last day of December of each year. On or 38
after After February 1, a license or permit may be renewed by paying a late fee as provided in 39
G.S. 90-210.132 in addition to the annual renewal fee. Licenses and permits that remain expired 40
six months or more require a new application for renewal. Licenses and permits are not 41
transferable. 42
(e1) A new application for a license or permit shall be made to the Board within 30 days 43
following a change of ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the business. A new 44
application for a license or permit is required if any of the following occur: 45
(1) A change to the legal structure of a crematory that results in a change of a 46
majority of the crematory licensee's owners, partners, managers, members, 47
operators, or officers. 48
(2) A crematory licensee's owner, partner, manager, member, operator, or officer 49
that holds a majority of the crematory's ownership interest dies. The estate of 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 House Bill 1003-First Edition
the decedent is permitted to apply for a permit within 180 days of the date of 1
death. 2
(f) No person, cemetery, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, 3
voluntary organization, or any other entity shall cremate any human remains, except in a 4
crematory licensed for this express purpose and operated by a crematory licensee subject to the 5
restrictions and limitations of this Article or unless otherwise permitted by statute. 6
(g) Whenever the Board finds that an owner, partner, crematory manager, member, 7
officer, or any crematory technician of a crematory licensee or any applicant to become a 8
crematory licensee, or that any authorized employee, agent, or representative has violated any 9
provision of this Article, or is guilty of any of the following acts, and when the Board also finds 10
that the crematory operator or applicant has thereby become unfit to practice, the Board may 11
suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew the license, in accordance with Chapter 150B of the 12
General Statutes: 13
(1) Conviction of a felony or a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude.plea of 14
guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or misdemeanor that indicates that the 15
individual is unfit or incompetent to engage in cremations or that the 16
individual has deceived or defrauded the public. 17
(1a) Denial, suspension, or revocation of an occupational or business license by 18
another jurisdiction. 19
(2) Fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining or renewing a license, in the practice 20
of cremation, or in the operation of a licensee's business. 21
(3) False or misleading advertising. 22
(4) Solicitation of dead human bodies by the licensee, his agents, assistants, or 23
employees; but this subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit general 24
advertising by the licensee. 25
(5) Employment directly or indirectly of any agent, assistant, or other person on 26
a part-time or full-time basis or on commission for the purpose of calling upon 27
individuals or institutions by whose influence dead human bodies may be 28
turned over to a particular licensee. 29
(6) The direct or indirect payment or offer of payment of a commission by the 30
licensee or the licensee's agent, assistant, or employees for the purpose of 31
securing business. 32
(7) Gross immorality, including being under the influence of alcohol or drugs 33
while performing cremation services.Acts or omissions indicating that the 34
licensee is unable to engage in cremations with reasonable skill and safety by 35
reason of illness, excessive use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, or any other type 36
of substance, or by reason of any physical or mental abnormality. 37
(8) Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to perform services under this Article, 38
including the use of a picture or name in connection with advertisements or 39
other written material published or caused to be published by the licensee. 40
(9) Failing to treat a dead human body with respect at all times. 41
(10) Violating or cooperating with others to violate any of the provisions of this 42
Article Article and Article 13A, 13D, or 13E of this Chapter, or of the rules of 43
the Board or violation of Funeral Industry Practices, 16 C.F.R. § 453 (1984), 44
as amended. 45
(11) Violation of any State law or municipal or county ordinance or regulation 46
affecting the handling, custody, care, or transportation of dead human bodies. 47
(12) Refusing to surrender promptly the custody of a dead human body or cremated 48
remains upon the express order of the person lawfully entitled to the custody 49
thereof, except as provided in G.S. 90-210.131(e). 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 7
(13) Indecent exposure or exhibition of a dead human body while in the custody or 1
control of a licensee. 2
(14) Practicing funeral directing, embalming, or funeral service without a license. 3
(15) Allowing anyone other than a licensee of the Board or a crematory technician 4
to perform a cremation. 5
(16) Failure to refund any insurance proceeds received as consideration in excess 6
of the funeral contract purchase price within 30 days of receipt. 7
(17) Failure to provide, within a reasonable time, either the goods and services 8
contracted for or a refund for the price of goods and services paid for but not 9
fulfilled. 10
(18) Violation of G.S. 58-58-97. 11
(19) Failure to respond to the Board's inquiries in a reasonable manner or time 12
regarding any matter affecting the individual's performance of cremations. 13
(20) Failure to adequately supervise or oversee auxiliary licensed or unlicensed 14
staff, employees, agents, or contractors, as required by this Article and Article 15
13D, 13E, or 13F of this Chapter, any rules of the Board, or the standards set 16
forth in Funeral Industry Practices, 16 C.F.R. § 453 (1984), as amended. 17
(21) Knowingly failing to follow the lawful direction of a person with the right to 18
authorize disposition of human remains in accordance with G.S. 130A-420. 19
In any case in which the Board is authorized to take any of the actions permitted under this 20
subsection, the Board may instead accept an offer in compromise of the charges whereby the 21
accused shall pay to the Board a penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). 22
(h) Where the Board finds a licensee is guilty of one or more of the acts or omissions 23
listed in subsection (g) of this section but it is determined by the Board that the licensee has not 24
thereby become unfit to practice, the Board may place the licensee on a term of probation in 25
accordance with the procedures set out in Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. In any case in 26
which the Board is entitled to place a licensee on a term of probation, the Board may also impose 27
a penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) in conjunction with the probation. The 28
Board may determine the length and conditions of any period of probation, suspension, 29
revocation, or refusal to issue or renew a license. 30
(i) The Board may hold hearings in accordance with the provisions of this Article and 31
Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. The Board is empowered to regulate and 32
inspect crematories and crematory licensees and to enforce as provided by law the provisions of 33
this Article and the rules adopted hereunder. Any crematory that, upon inspection, is found not 34
to meet any of the requirements of this Article shall pay a reinspection fee to the Board for each 35
additional inspection that is made to ascertain whether the deficiency or other violation has been 36
corrected. The Board may obtain preliminary and final injunctions whenever a violation of this 37
Article has occurred or threatens to occur. The Board may enforce compliance with the standards 38
set forth in Funeral Industry Practices, 16 C.F.R. § 453 (1984), as amended, and in accordance 39
with subsection (d1) of this section. 40
(i1) The Board may apply for injunctive relief in the superior county of (i) where an act is 41
alleged to have taken place, (ii) where the defendant resides, or (iii) Wake County, if any person, 42
firm, corporation, or other entity has committed an act allegedly violating any provision of this 43
Article. If a court of competent jurisdiction finds a defendant has acted in violation of this Article, 44
then the court shall issue an order enjoining and restraining the acts constituting violations. The 45
Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of costs and attorneys' fees expended in an action 46
brought under this subsection. 47
In addition to the powers enumerated in Chapter 150B of the General Statutes, the Board 48
shall have the power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of persons 49
and the production of papers and records before the Board in any hearing, investigation, or 50
proceeding conducted by it. Members of the Board's staff or the sheriff or other appropriate 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 House Bill 1003-First Edition
official of any county of this State shall serve all notices, subpoenas, and other papers given to 1
them by the President of the Board for service in the same manner as process issued by any court 2
of record. Any person who neglects or refuses to obey a subpoena issued by the Board shall be 3
guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor." 4
SECTION 1.5. G.S. 90-210.124 (Authorizing Agent.) is repealed. 5
SECTION 1.6. Article 13F of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by 6
adding a new section to read: 7
"§ 90-210.124A. Authorizing agent. 8
All crematory licensees shall comply with G.S. 130A-420 when acting under their respective 9
scope of practice for dispositions of reduced human remains or body parts." 10
SECTION 1.7. G.S. 90-210.125 reads as rewritten: 11
"§ 90-210.125. Authorization to cremate. 12
(a) A crematory licensee shall not cremate human remains until it has received a 13
cremation authorization form signed by an authorizing agent. The cremation authorization form 14
shall be prescribed by the Board and shall contain at a minimum the following information: 15
… 16
(6) A representation that the authorizing agent does in fact have the right to 17
authorize the cremation of the decedent and that the authorizing agent is not 18
aware of any living person who has a superior priority right to that of the 19
authorizing agent, as set forth in G.S. 90-210.124. G.S. 130A-420. Or, in the 20
event that there is another living person who does have a superior priority right 21
to that of the authorizing agent, a representation that the authorizing agent has 22
made all reasonable efforts to contact such person, has been unable to do so, 23
and has no reason to believe that such person would object to the cremation 24
of the decedent. 25
… 26
(13) If a cremation authorization form is being executed on a preneed basis, the 27
cremation authorization form shall contain the disclosure required by 28
G.S. 90-210.126. The authorizing agent may specify in writing religious 29
practices that conflict with Article 13 Article 13A, 13D, or 13F of this 30
Chapter. The crematory licensee and funeral director shall observe those 31
religious practices except where they interfere with cremation in a licensed 32
crematory as specified under G.S. 90-210.123 or the required documentation 33
and record keeping. 34
…." 35
SECTION 1.8. G.S. 90-210.126 reads as rewritten: 36
"§ 90-210.126. Preneed cremation arrangements. 37
(a) Any person, on a preneed basis, may authorize the person's own cremation and the 38
final disposition of the person's cremated remains by executing, as the authorizing agent, a 39
cremation authorization form on a preneed basis and having the form signed by two witnesses. 40
The witnesses in accordance with G.S. 130A-420. If the person executes a cremation 41
authorization form on a preneed basis, the person shall retain a copy of this form, and a copy 42
shall be sent to the funeral establishment and/or or the crematory licensee. licensee, or both. Any 43
person shall have the right to transfer or cancel this authorization at any time prior to the person's 44
death by destroying the executed cremation authorization form and providing written notice to 45
the party or parties that received the cremation authorization form. 46
…." 47
SECTION 1.9. G.S. 90-210.127 reads as rewritten: 48
"§ 90-210.127. Record keeping. 49
(a) The crematory licensee shall furnish to the person who delivers such human remains 50
to the crematory licensee a receipt, signed by both the crematory licensee and the person who 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 9
delivers the human remains, showing the date and time of the delivery; the type of casket or 1
cremation container that was delivered; the name of the person from whom the human remains 2
were received and the name of the funeral establishment or other entity with whom such person 3
is affiliated; the name of the person who received the human remains on behalf of the crematory 4
licensee; and the name of the decedent. The crematory licensee shall retain a copy of this receipt 5
in its permanent records for three years. 6
(b) Upon its release of cremated reduced human remains, the crematory licensee shall 7
furnish to the person who receives such cremated those reduced human remains from the 8
crematory licensee a receipt, signed by both the crematory licensee and the person who receives 9
the cremated reduced human remains, showing the date and time of the release; the name of the 10
person to whom the cremated reduced human remains were released and the name of the funeral 11
establishment, cemetery, or other entity with whom such person is affiliated; the name of the 12
person who released the cremated reduced human remains on behalf of the crematory licensee; 13
and the name of the decedent. The crematory shall retain a copy of this receipt in its permanent 14
records for three years. 15
(c) A crematory licensee shall maintain at its place of business a record of all forms 16
required by the Board of each cremation that took place at its facility for three years. A funeral 17
establishment shall maintain at its place of business a record of all forms generated by or provided 18
to it under this Article for a period of three years. 19
(d) The crematory licensee shall maintain a record for three years of all cremated reduced 20
human remains disposed of by the crematory licensee in accordance with G.S. 90-210.126(d). 21
(e) Upon completion of the cremation, the crematory licensee shall issue a certificate of 22
cremation. 23
(f) All records that are required to be maintained under this Article shall be subject to 24
inspection by the Board or its agents upon request." 25
SECTION 1.10. G.S. 90-210.128 reads as rewritten: 26
"§ 90-210.128. Cremation containers. 27
(a) No crematory licensee shall make or enforce any rules requiring that any human 28
remains be placed in a casket before cremation or that human remains be cremated in a casket, 29
nor shall any crematory licensee refuse to accept human remains for cremation for the reason 30
that they are not in a casket. 31
(b) No crematory licensee shall make or enforce any rules requiring that any cremated 32
remains be placed in an urn or receptacle designed to permanently encase the cremated reduced 33
human remains after the cremation process has been performed." 34
SECTION 1.11. G.S. 90-210.129 reads as rewritten: 35
"§ 90-210.129. Cremation procedures. 36
(a) For any death occurring in North Carolina certified by the attending physician or other 37
person authorized by law to sign a death certificate under the supervision of a physician, the body 38
shall not be cremated before the crematory licensee receives a death certificate signed by the 39
person authorized to sign the death certificate, which shall contain contain, at a minimum 40
minimum, all of the following information: 41
(1) Decedent's name;name. 42
(2) Date of death;death. 43
(3) Date of birth;birth. 44
(4) Sex;Sex. 45
(5) Place of death;death. 46
(6) Facility name (if not institution, give street and number);number). 47
(7) County of death;death. 48
(8) City of death; anddeath. 49
(9) Time of death (if known). 50
… 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 10 House Bill 1003-First Edition
(g) Human remains shall be cremated only while enclosed in a cremation container. Upon 1
completion of the cremation, and insofar as is possible, all of the recoverable residue of the 2
cremation process shall be removed from the cremation chamber. Insofar as is possible, all 3
residue of the cremation process shall then be separated from any foreign residue or anything 4
else other than bone fragments and then be processed by pulverization so as to reduce the 5
cremated remains to unidentifiable particles. Any foreign residue and anything other than the 6
particles of the cremated remains shall be removed from the cremated reduced human remains 7
as far as possible and shall be disposed of by the crematory licensee. This section does not apply 8
where law otherwise provides for commingling of human remains. The fact that there is 9
incidental and unavoidable residue in the cremation chamber used in a prior cremation is not a 10
violation of this subsection. 11
… 12
(k) Nothing in this Article shall require a crematory licensee to perform a cremation that 13
is impossible or impractical to perform. 14
(l) The cremated reduced human remains with proper identification shall be placed in an 15
initial container or the urn selected or provided by the authorizing agent. The initial container or 16
urn contents shall not be contaminated with any other object, unless specific authorization has 17
been received from the authorizing agent or as provided in subsection (g) of this section. 18
(m) If the cremated reduced human remains are greater than the dimensions of an initial 19
container or urn, the excess cremated reduced human remains shall be returned to the authorizing 20
agent or its representative in a separate container or urn. 21
(n) If the cremated reduced human remains are to be shipped, the initial container or urn 22
shall be packed securely in a suitable shipping container that complies with the requirements of 23
the shipper. Cremated Reduced human remains shall be shipped only by a method which has an 24
internal tracing system available and which provides a receipt signed by the person accepting 25
delivery, unless otherwise authorized in writing by the authorizing agent. Cremated Reduced 26
human remains shall be shipped to the proper address as stated on the cremation authorization 27
form signed by the authorizing agent. 28
… 29
(r) A crematory shall refrigerate human remains at a temperature not greater than 40 30
degrees Fahrenheit, unless the cremation will begin within 24 hours of the time in which the 31
crematory licensee takes custody of the human remains." 32
SECTION 1.12. G.S. 90-210.130 reads as rewritten: 33
"§ 90-210.130. Final disposition of cremated reduced human remains. 34
(a) The authorizing agent shall provide the person with whom cremation arrangements 35
are made with a signed statement specifying the ultimate disposition of the cremated reduced 36
human remains, if known. The crematory licensee may store or retain cremated reduced human 37
remains as directed by the authorizing agent. Records of retention and disposition of cremated 38
reduced human remains shall be kept by the crematory licensee pursuant to G.S. 90-210.127. 39
(b) The authorizing agent is responsible for the disposition of the cremated reduced 40
human remains. If, after a period of 30 days from the date of cremation, If the authorizing agent 41
or the agent's representative has not specified the final disposition or claimed the cremated 42
remains, reduced human remains within 30 days after the crematory licensee provides written 43
notice delivered by certified mail to the authorizing agent's last known address that the reduced 44
human remains are available for retrieval, the crematory licensee or the person in possession of 45
the cremated reduced human remains may release the cremated reduced human remains to 46
another family member upon written notification to the authorizing agent delivered by certified 47
mail or dispose of the cremated reduced human remains only in a manner permitted in this 48
section. Article. The authorizing agent shall be responsible for reimbursing the crematory 49
licensee for all reasonable expenses incurred in disposing of the cremated reduced human 50
remains pursuant to this section. A record of such disposition shall be made and kept by the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 11
person making the disposition. Upon disposing of cremated reduced human remains in 1
accordance with this section, Article, the crematory licensee or person in possession of the 2
cremated reduced human remains shall be discharged from any legal obligation or liability 3
concerning such cremated those reduced human remains. 4
(c) In addition to the disposal of cremated reduced human remains in a crypt, niche, 5
grave, or scattering garden located in a dedicated cemetery, or by scattering over uninhabited 6
public land, the sea, or other public waterways pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, cremated 7
reduced human remains may be disposed of in any manner on the private property of a consenting 8
owner, upon direction of the authorizing agent. If cremated reduced human remains are to be 9
disposed of by the crematory licensee on private property, other than dedicated cemetery 10
property, the authorizing agent shall provide the crematory licensee with the written consent of 11
the property owner. 12
(d) Except with the express written permission of the authorizing agent, no person 13
may:shall do any of the following: 14
(1) Dispose of or scatter cremated reduced human remains in such a manner or in 15
such a location that the cremated reduced human remains are commingled 16
with those of another person. This subdivision shall not apply to the scattering 17
of cremated reduced human remains at sea or by air from individual closed 18
containers or to the scattering of cremated remains in an area located in a 19
dedicated cemetery and used exclusively for such those purposes. 20
(2) Place cremated reduced human remains of more than one person in the same 21
closed container. This subdivision shall not apply to placing the cremated 22
reduced human remains of members of the same family in a common closed 23
container designed for the cremated reduced human remains of more than one 24
person with the written consent of the family. 25
(e) Cremated Reduced human remains shall be released by the crematory licensee to the 26
individual specified by the authorizing agent on the cremation authorization form. The 27
representative of the crematory licensee and the individual receiving the cremated reduced human 28
remains shall sign a receipt indicating the name of the deceased, and the date, time, and place of 29
the receipt, and contain a representation that the handling of the final disposition will be in a 30
proper manner. After this delivery, the cremated remains may be transported in any manner in 31
this State, without a permit, and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this Article. 32
(f) Cremated Reduced human remains may be scattered over uninhabited public land, 33
over a public waterway or sea, subject to health and environmental standards, or on the private 34
property of a consenting owner pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. A person may utilize a 35
boat or airplane to perform such scattering. Cremated scattering under this subsection. Reduced 36
human remains shall be removed from their closed container before they are scattered." 37
SECTION 1.13. G.S. 90-210.131 reads as rewritten: 38
"§ 90-210.131. Limitation of liability. 39
… 40
(c) A crematory licensee shall not be responsible or liable for any valuables delivered to 41
the crematory licensee with human remains. 42
(d) A crematory licensee shall not be liable for refusing to accept a body or to perform a 43
cremation until it receives a court order or other suitable confirmation that a dispute has been 44
settled if:if any of the following are satisfied: 45
(1) It is aware of any dispute concerning the cremation of human remains;human 46
remains. 47
(2) It has a reasonable basis for questioning any of the representations made by 48
the authorizing agent; oragent. 49
(3) For any other lawful reason. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 12 House Bill 1003-First Edition
(e) If a crematory licensee is aware of any dispute concerning the release or disposition 1
of the cremated reduced human remains, the crematory licensee may refuse to release the 2
cremated reduced human remains until the dispute has been resolved or the crematory licensee 3
has been provided with a court order authorizing the release or disposition of the cremated 4
reduced human remains. A crematory licensee shall not be liable for refusing to release or dispose 5
of cremated reduced human remains in accordance with this subsection. A crematory licensee 6
may charge a reasonable storage fee if the dispute is not resolved within 30 days after it is 7
received by the crematory licensee." 8
SECTION 1.14. G.S. 90-210.132 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 90-210.132. Fees. 10
(a) By rule, the Board may set and collect fees from crematory and hydrolysis licensees, 11
crematory and hydrolysis manager permit holders, and applicants not to exceed the following 12
amounts: 13
(1) Licensee application fee. ............................................................ $400.00 14
(2) Annual renewal fee. ..................................................................... 150.00 15
(3) Late renewal fee. ............................................................................ 75.00 16
(4) Reinspection fee. .......................................................................... 150.00 17
(5) Per cremation or hydrolysis reduction fee. .................................... 10.00 18
(6) Late fee, per cremation or hydrolysis.reduction............................. 10.00 19
(7) Late fee, cremation or hydrolysis reduction report. ...... 75.00 per month 20
(8) Crematory or hydrolysis manager permit application fee. ........... 150.00 21
(9) Annual crematory or hydrolysis manager permit renewal fee. ..... 40.00. 22
(b) The funds collected pursuant to this Article shall become part of the general fund of 23
the Board. 24
(c) No later than the tenth day of each month, every crematory licensee and hydrolysis 25
licensee under this Article shall remit to the Board the per cremation or reduction fees for the 26
cremations or reductions which the crematory licensee performed during the immediately 27
preceding calendar month. Each remittance shall be accompanied by a statement signed by an 28
authorized representative of the licensee containing all of the following information: 29
(1) The name of the crematory licensee. 30
(2) Each decedent's name. 31
(3) Date of each cremation or reduction. 32
(4) The person or entity from whom each cremation or reduction was performed. 33
(5) The number of cremations or reductions contained in the statement. 34
(6) The total amount of fees remitted with the statement." 35
SECTION 1.15. G.S. 90-210.136, as amended by this act, reads as rewritten: 36
"§ 90-210.136. Hydrolysis of human remains. 37
(a) The following definitions shall apply in this section: 38
(1) Recodified as G.S. 90-210.121(1). 39
(2) Recodified as G.S. 90-210.121(17a). 40
(3) Recodified as G.S. 90-210.121(17b). 41
(4) Recodified as G.S. 90-210.121(17d). 42
(b) No person, cemetery, funeral establishment, corporation, partnership, joint venture, 43
voluntary organization, or other entity shall hydrolyze human remains without first obtaining a 44
license from the Board. An application for a license under this subsection shall be made on forms 45
furnished and prescribed by the Board. 46
(c) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a license for the hydrolysis of human 47
remains shall have the same requirements and comply with all provisions of this Article, 48
including G.S. 90-210.127 and G.S. 90-210.130, and be subject to the same fees as for the 49
licensing of crematories under this Article. The hydrolysis of human remains shall be conducted 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 13
in compliance with all requirements for cremation, and the licensee shall pay the same fees for 1
monthly reports for each hydrolysis as crematories under this Article. 2
…." 3
SECTION 1.16. G.S. 130A-415(j) reads as rewritten: 4
"(j) Any funeral director or funeral service licensee doing business within the State having 5
physical possession of a dead body shall make reasonable efforts to contact relatives of the 6
deceased or other persons who may wish to claim the body for final disposition. If the body 7
remains unclaimed for final disposition for 10 days, or if the right to authorize the type, method, 8
place, and disposition, of the dead body is waived under G.S. 130A-420(b1) or 9
G.S. 90-210.124(b), G.S. 130A-420(b1), and if all persons who have expressed interest in 10
arranging for the disposition for the dead body have ceased communication with the person in 11
possession of the dead body for five days, the dead body shall be deemed abandoned. If the 12
funeral director or funeral service licensee receives the dead body from a person or entity listed 13
in subsection (a) of this section, the 10-day period shall run concurrently with any period imposed 14
on that person or entity. Any person having possession of an abandoned dead body shall notify 15
the Commission of Anatomy. Upon request of the Commission of Anatomy, the person having 16
possession of the abandoned dead body shall deliver the abandoned dead body to the Commission 17
of Anatomy at a time and place specified by the Commission of Anatomy or shall permit the 18
Commission of Anatomy to take and remove the abandoned dead body." 19
SECTION 1.17. This Part becomes effective October 1, 2025. 20
21
PART II. FUNERAL TRANSPORTATION AGR EEMENTS/INSURANCE 22
SECTION 2.1.(a) G.S. 90-210.60 reads as rewritten: 23
"§ 90-210.60. Definitions. 24
As used in this Article, unless the context requires otherwise: 25
… 26
(5) "Preneed funeral contract" means any contract, agreement, or mutual 27
understanding, or any series or combination of contracts, agreements, or 28
mutual understandings, whether funded by trust deposits or prearrangement 29
insurance policies, or any combination thereof, which has for a purpose the 30
furnishing or performance of funeral services, or the furnishing or delivery of 31
personal property, merchandise, or services of any nature in connection with 32
the final disposition of a dead human body, to be furnished or delivered at a 33
time determinable by the death of the person whose body is to be disposed of, 34
but does not mean the furnishing of a cemetery lot, crypt, niche, or 35
mausoleum;mausoleum. This term does not include a transportation 36
protection agreement. 37
… 38
(10) "Transportation protection agreement" means an agreement that primarily 39
provides for the coordination and arranging of all professional services related 40
to the preparation of human remains or cremated remains for the purpose of 41
initial and subsequent transportation of those remains." 42
SECTION 2.1.(b) G.S. 90-210.72 reads as rewritten: 43
"§ 90-210.72. Nonapplication to certain funeral contracts. 44
This Article does not apply to contracts any of the following: 45
(1) Contracts for funeral services or merchandise sold as preneed burial insurance 46
policies pursuant to Part 13 of Article 10 of Chapter 143B of the North 47
Carolina General Statutes or to replacements policies pursuant to Article 13E 48
of this Chapter. 49
(2) Replacements or conversions of such policies pursuant to G.S. 50
143B-472.28.G.S. 90-210.106. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 14 House Bill 1003-First Edition
(3) A transportation protection agreement as defined in this Article." 1
SECTION 2.1.(c) The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service may adopt rules to 2
implement the provisions of this section. 3
SECTION 2.1.(d) This section becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to 4
preneed funeral contracts and transportation protection agreements entered into on or after that 5
date. 6
SECTION 2.2.(a) G.S. 58-7-15 reads as rewritten: 7
"§ 58-7-15. Kinds of insurance authorized. 8
The kinds of insurance that may be authorized in this State, subject to the other provisions of 9
Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter, are set forth in this section. Except to the extent an insurer 10
participates in a risk sharing plan under Article 42 of this Chapter, nothing in this section requires 11
any insurer to insure every kind of risk that it is authorized to insure. Except to the extent an 12
insurer participates in a risk sharing plan under Article 42 of this Chapter, no insurer may transact 13
any other business than that specified in its charter and articles of association or incorporation. 14
The power to do any kind of insurance against loss of or damage to property includes the power 15
to insure all lawful interests in the property and to insure against loss of use and occupancy and 16
rents and profits resulting therefrom; but no kind of insurance includes life insurance or insurance 17
against legal liability for personal injury or death unless specified in this section. In addition to 18
any power to engage in any other kind of business than an insurance business that is specifically 19
conferred by the provisions of Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter, any insurer authorized to do 20
business in this State may engage in such other kinds of business to the extent necessarily or 21
properly incidental to the kinds of insurance business that it is authorized to do in this State. Each 22
of the following indicates the scope of the kind of insurance business specified: 23
(1) "Life insurance", meaning every insurance upon the lives of human beings 24
and every insurance appertaining thereto. The business of life insurance 25
includes the granting of endowment benefits; additional benefits in the event 26
of death by accident or accidental means; additional benefits operating to 27
safeguard the contract from lapse, or to provide a special surrender value, in 28
the event of total and permanent disability of the insured, including industrial 29
sick benefit; and optional modes of settlement of proceeds. The business of 30
life insurance does not include the provision of transportation protection 31
agreements, as defined under G.S. 90-210.60. 32
…." 33
SECTION 2.2.(b) G.S. 58-58-1 reads as rewritten: 34
"§ 58-58-1. Definitions; requisites of contract. 35
(a) All corporations or associations doing business in this State, under any charter or 36
statute of this or any other state, involving the payment of money or other thing of value to 37
families or representatives of policy and certificate holders or members, conditioned upon the 38
continuance or cessation of human life, or involving an insurance, guaranty, contract, or pledge 39
for the payment of endowments or annuities, or who employ agents to solicit such business, are 40
life insurance companies, in all respects subject to the laws herein made and provided for the 41
government of life insurance companies, and shall not make any such insurance, guaranty, 42
contract, or pledge in this State with any citizen, or resident thereof, which does not distinctly 43
state the amount of benefits payable, the manner of payment, the consideration therefor and such 44
other provisions as the Commissioner may require. 45
(b) This section does not apply to a preneed licensee under Article 13D of Chapter 90 of 46
the General Statutes or for the purposes of a transportation protection agreement, as defined under 47
G.S. 90-210.60." 48
SECTION 2.2.(c) G.S. 58-58-125 reads as rewritten: 49
"§ 58-58-125. Minimum premium rates for assessment life insurance companies. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 15
No assessment life insurance corporation, organization or association of any kind issuing 1
policies or contracts upon the life of any resident of this State shall hereafter be organized or 2
licensed by the Commissioner unless such corporation, organization or association adopt 3
premium rates based upon the attained age of the assured at the time of issuance of the contract 4
and such rates shall not be less than those fixed by the American Experience Table of Mortality 5
or any other recognized table of mortality approved by the Commissioner. Nothing contained in 6
this section shall be construed to affect burial associations regulated under G.S. 143B-472 7
through 143B-472.28 Article 13E of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes or railroad burial 8
associations." 9
SECTION 2.2.(d) G.S. 58-58-330(a) reads as rewritten: 10
"(a) This Part does not apply to solicitations or sales involving:involving any of the 11
following: 12
… 13
(7) Contracts used to fund:fund any of the following: 14
… 15
f. Prearranged funeral contracts.contracts or transportation protection 16
agreements, as both terms are defined under G.S. 90-210.60." 17
SECTION 2.2.(e) G.S. 58-58-335(8) reads as rewritten: 18
"(8) "Life insurance" means insurance coverage on human lives, including benefits 19
of endowment and annuities, and may include benefits in the event of death 20
or dismemberment by accident and benefits for disability income; and unless 21
otherwise specifically excluded, includes individually issued annuities. In 22
accordance with G.S. 58-7-15, this term does not include a transportation 23
protection agreement." 24
SECTION 2.2.(f) G.S. 58-60-35(a) reads as rewritten: 25
"§ 58-60-35. Disclosure of prearrangement insurance policy provisions. 26
(a) As used The following definitions apply in this section: 27
(1) "Prearrangement" means any Prearrangement. – A contract, agreement, or 28
mutual understanding, or any series or combination of contracts, agreements 29
or mutual understandings, whether funded by trust deposits or prearrangement 30
insurance policies, or any combination thereof, which has for a purpose the 31
furnishing or performance of specific funeral services, or the furnishing or 32
delivery of specific personal property, merchandise, or services of any nature 33
in connection with the final disposition of a dead human body, to be furnished 34
or delivered at a time determinable by the death of the person whose body is 35
to be disposed of, but does not mean the furnishing of a cemetery lot, crypt, 36
niche, mausoleum, grave marker or monument. This term does not include a 37
transportation protection agreement, as defined under G.S. 90-210.60. 38
(2) "Prearrangement insurance policy" means a Prearrangement insurance policy. 39
– A life insurance policy, annuity contract, or other insurance contract, or any 40
series of contracts or agreements in any form or manner, issued on a group or 41
individual basis by an insurance company authorized by law to do business in 42
this State, which, whether by assignment or otherwise, has for its sole purpose 43
the funding of a specific preneed funeral contract or a specific 44
insurance-funded funeral or burial prearrangement, the insured being the 45
person for whose service the funds were paid." 46
SECTION 2.2.(g) This section becomes effective October 1, 2025, and applies to 47
preneed funeral contracts and transportation protection agreements entered into on or after that 48
date. 49
SECTION 2.3.(a) G.S. 58-58-97 reads as rewritten: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 16 House Bill 1003-First Edition
"§ 58-58-97. Provision of life insurance information upon notification of insured's death.to 1
funeral provider. 2
(a) Any person licensed to practice funeral directing or any employee of a funeral 3
establishment licensed under the provisions of Article 13A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes 4
providing funeral service, as that term is defined in G.S. 90-210.20, for may request from a life 5
insurance carrier information regarding a life insurance contract or contracts as follows: 6
(1) For a prospective policy beneficiary when that beneficiary is requesting the 7
use of a life insurance policy for the fulfilment of funeral services, by 8
providing the insurer a written authorization from the prospective policy 9
beneficiary. 10
(2) For a deceased person insured or believed to be insured under a contract of 11
life insurance or under a group life insurance policy may request information 12
regarding the deceased person's life insurance contracts policy, by providing 13
an insurer with (i) a copy of a notification of death filed pursuant to 14
G.S. 130A-112, (ii) written authorization from the person or persons with 15
legal authority to direct disposition of the deceased's body as prescribed under 16
G.S. 90-210.124 or G.S. 130A-420, and (iii) in the case of a person covered 17
or believed to be covered under a group life insurance policy, the affiliation 18
of the deceased entitling them to coverage under the group life insurance 19
policy. 20
(a1) As soon as possible No later than one business day after receipt of the request, a 21
request under this section, the life insurance company shall inform the person authorized by this 22
section to make an inquiry of the following:following information: 23
(1) The existence of any contract insuring the life of the deceased person. 24
(2) Any beneficiaries on record under any life insurance contract insuring the life 25
of a prospective policy beneficiary or the deceased person. 26
(3) The amount of any liens or loans outstanding on the policy. 27
(4) The amount of benefits payable to the beneficiaries. 28
(5) Whether the policy has been reinstated within the last 24 months. 29
The insurer shall provide a claim form to any person or assignee making the request. 30
(b) If any person making a written request under subsection (a) of this section who has 31
provided all the information required by subsection (a) of this section does not receive a timely 32
response within one business day from the insurer, then the person may refer the request to the 33
Consumer Services Division of the Department, which shall treat the referral as a consumer 34
complaint. The referral shall include all the information provided to the insurer under subsection 35
(a) of this section as well as copies of all communications and information received from the 36
insurer regarding the request for information. Failure to meet the deadline for the provision of 37
information under this section may subject the insurer to a penalty under G.S. 58-2-70. 38
(c) If In the case of a deceased person, if the beneficiary of record under the life insurance 39
contract or group life insurance policy is not the estate of the deceased, then any person 40
authorized to request information under subsection (a) of this section shall make reasonable 41
efforts to locate the beneficiaries within 100 hours of receiving information from the insurance 42
carrier regarding any life insurance contracts or group life insurance policies and shall provide 43
to all beneficiaries all documents and information obtained from the insurance carrier. The person 44
obtaining the information also shall inform all beneficiaries in writing in bold print that "THE 45
BENEFICIARY OF A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY HAS NO LEGAL DUTY OR 46
OBLIGATION TO SPEND ANY OF THAT MONEY ON THE FUNERAL, DEBTS, OR 47
OBLIGATIONS OF THE DECEASED" and shall do so before discussing with the beneficiaries 48
financial arrangements for burial of the deceased. 49
…." 50
SECTION 2.3.(b) G.S. 58-39-75(4a) reads as rewritten: 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1003-First Edition Page 17
"(4a) To a person making an inquiry authorized under G.S. 58-58-97 when 1
providing funeral service to a deceased insured; G.S. 58-58-97; or" 2
SECTION 2.3.(c) This section is effective 30 days after it becomes law and applies 3
to inquiries made to life insurance carriers doing business in this State on or after that date. 4
SECTION 2.4. Except as otherwise provided, this Part is effective when it becomes 5
law. 6
7
PART III. RULEMAKING AND EFFECTIVE DATE 8
SECTION 3.1. The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service may adopt temporary 9
rules to implement the provisions of this act. Temporary rules adopted in accordance with this 10
section shall remain in effect until permanent rules that replace the temporary rules become 11
effective. 12
SECTION 3.2. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 13
law. 14