The Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 481, legislation that makes changes to laws affecting Ohio’s funeral homes and funeral directors.

Among provisions included in the bill is establishing a new procedure to allow funeral directors and embalmers to place their licenses on inactive status. After being on inactive status, a funeral director or embalmer must pass an Ohio funeral laws exam before returning to the profession.

“In working closely with the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, it became clear that certain issues needed to be addressed regarding Ohio’s funeral laws,” said bill sponsor Representative Bob Hackett (R-London).

“H.B. 481 both updates current laws and institutes common sense provisions that I believe will greatly benefit the approximately 1,000 funeral homes and 2,500 funeral professionals in the state.” House Bill 481 also allows the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors to issue courtesy card licenses to funeral directors in bordering states to conduct limited funeral related activities in Ohio. The adjoining state must have a similar law that grants Ohio funeral directors to conduct funeral related activities in that state.

Also under the bill, funeral homes can continue to operate until the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors meets to review a new application when an existing funeral home is sold and the new owner files a new funeral home license application.

Finally, the bill authorizes funeral directors from other states to come to Ohio and assist Ohio funeral directors during a declared emergency.

HB 481 passed the Ohio House unanimously and will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.