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Commission updates county code to reflect state law on cremation of deceased indigent persons
Summary
The commission adopted ordinance 2025-12-89-O updating Washington County Code Title 8 Chapter 7 to reference the current Utah state code on family duty for cremation of indigent decedents after the referenced state provision had been repealed in county code.
The Washington County Commission on May 6 adopted ordinance 2025-12-89-O to amend Title 8, Chapter 7 of county code to update the county’s reference to state law regarding family responsibility and county contribution for cremation of indigent decedents.
Courtney, a county staff member who presented the ordinance, said the county code previously pointed to a Utah Code section that was repealed last year; the adopted ordinance replaces that outdated citation with a current state‑law reference that sets the order of family responsibility and preserves the county’s ability to assist when no family is available or able to do so. Courtney said: “Historically, the Washington County code currently points to a code section of the Utah code that was repealed last year... this ordinance that's proposed today is just updating the county code to refer to that section of the code, the Utah state code, which remains in effect.”
Commissioners said the issue was not commonly discussed but is important as the county grows and regional medical facilities lead to more decedents from outside the immediate family. The commission approved the ordinance by voice vote.
The ordinance updates county code language only; commissioners did not attach a new appropriation to the change and indicated the amendment clarifies county authority and aligns local code text with current state law.
