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House approves modest fee increases for funeral-service licensure after board request
Summary
House Bill 1015, requested by the South Dakota Board of Funeral Service, passed on a two‑thirds requirement vote to increase licensure fees for crematories and funeral directors to sustain board operations.
The South Dakota House passed House Bill 1015, which raises licensure fees related to funeral service and cremation. The bill was presented on behalf of the South Dakota Board of Funeral Service, which the floor sponsor said has not increased fees in 15 years.
Representative Vandero, who urged members to support the measure, said the board faces rising costs including legal fees, database expenses and operating costs. He told the chamber that the board is funded solely through licensure fees and therefore requested a modest increase to remain financially viable.
Representative Vandero described the fee changes on the floor: crematory fees would increase by $250 per year and the funeral director fee would increase by $100 per year. He also said the board had discussed the need for an increase at a public meeting with association members present and that there was no opposition at that time.
Because the bill contains a continuous appropriation, final passage required two‑thirds of the members‑elect. The clerk reported the final tally as 54 ayes and 14 nays, meeting the two‑thirds requirement, and the speaker declared House Bill 1015 passed.
The transcript records the sponsor’s explanation and the final vote; it does not record subsequent administrative steps the Board of Funeral Service will take to implement the fee changes.
