Bill to grant funds for perpetual-care cemeteries fails after committee debate

Representative Cindy Crawford presented House Bill 15‑77, seeking an appropriation to create a grant program for perpetual‑care cemeteries to pay for infrastructure repairs such as drainage, roadways and tree removal.

Crawford, District 51, told the committee the state licenses 104 perpetual‑care cemeteries and that many sites lack sufficient trust‑fund principal to pay for capital needs. “A sizable number of perpetual‑care cemeteries are not generating enough income to budget in a significant repair replacement expenditure,” she said. Crawford also noted Act 343 of 2021 changed which expenses could come from perpetual‑care trust funds.

Senator Peyton and other members questioned why the state should provide money to privately owned businesses that entered contracts promising perpetual care. Peyton asked, “When it fails, why should the state step in? Why wouldn't the families just take care of it if they've got loved ones there?” Representative Crawford and others responded that lower trust‑fund returns and rising cremation rates have reduced cemetery revenues and that some cemeteries are in violation of state maintenance rules.

After brief discussion the committee moved to a voice vote divided by chamber. The Senate voice vote on the motion to pass House Bill 15‑77 failed. The chair recorded the outcome as “Motion fails.”

The discussion included historical context on receiverships: Crawford said two perpetual‑care cemeteries — Rest In Peace Cemetery in Hensley and Haven Rest Cemetery in Little Rock — had been placed into receivership over the past two decades, with court‑appointed trustees managing those cases.

No appropriation or alternative funding direction was adopted during the meeting. Committee members asked Crawford to provide district lists of affected cemeteries for senators who requested them.

The committee moved on to other budget items after the vote.