HB129 Alabama 2023 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Kenneth PaschalRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2023
Title: Relating to funeral services; to amend Section 34-13-122, Code of Alabama 1975; to define dignified and humane manner for the disposition of cremated remains; and to mandate best efforts to identify the unclaimed cremated remains of Alabama veterans eligible for burial in a state or national military cemetery.
Summary: HB129 defines a dignified and humane disposal of cremated remains and requires best efforts to identify unclaimed remains of Alabama veterans eligible for burial in state or national veterans' cemeteries.
What This Bill Does
It defines what counts as a dignified and humane disposal of cremated remains and requires funeral establishments to keep records for five years. It mandates using traceable shipping with a signed delivery receipt. It assigns responsibility to the authorizing agent for disposition and allows disposal after 60 days if the remains are unclaimed or the disposition isn’t specified, with the provider released from liability after disposal. It also requires best efforts to identify whether unclaimed remains belong to an eligible veteran and allows sharing identifying information with the VA, Alabama VA, or approved veterans organizations to help arrange interment at a state or national cemetery or transfer to an approved organization.

Who It Affects
Funeral establishments and the authorizing agents in charge of cremation dispositions: must follow the defined dignified disposal methods, keep five-year records, use traceable shipping, and perform best efforts to identify veteran status; may dispose of unclaimed remains after 60 days and are released from liability after disposal.
Alabama veterans and their families, and veteran-related organizations/agencies: may have unclaimed cremated remains identified and interred in state or national veterans cemeteries or transferred to approved organizations, with possible disclosure of identifying information to assist placement.

Key Provisions
Defines 'dignified and humane manner' of disposition (examples include placement in a mausoleum, crypt, vault, columbarium niche, or inground site).
Requires best efforts to identify unclaimed cremated remains of Alabama veterans eligible for burial in state or national veterans cemeteries.
Requires the authorizing agent to provide a signed disposition statement and keeps a copy for five years.
Requires cremated remains to be shipped by a method with an internal tracing system and a signed delivery receipt.
If disposition is not specified or remains are unclaimed after 60 days, the funeral establishment may dispose of the remains in a dignified and humane manner and is discharged from liability after disposal.
Before disposing of unclaimed remains, establishments must attempt to determine veteran status and may disclose identifying information to the VA, Alabama VA, or approved veterans organizations to assist with burial.
Remaining eligible remains may be transported to a state or national veterans cemetery for interment or released to an approved veterans service organization or nonprofit.
Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Related to funeral services, disposition of unclaimed cremated remains of veterans.