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Panel updates allowed building materials for columbariums; bill advances
Summary
The Appropriations Committee approved House Bill 103 to broaden the building materials permitted for columbariums, keeping structural soundness and weatherproofing as the statutory standards.
The Appropriations Committee advanced House Bill 103 on a roll-call vote after debate over how prescriptive the statute should be on acceptable columbarium materials.
Proponent testimony and several representatives said the bill modernizes an older statute by allowing materials beyond granite and marble for exterior walls, doors and interior construction while preserving a requirement that structures be “structurally sound” and resist exterior weathering.
The measure’s sponsor told the committee the current statute dates to the 1960s and that local cemetery managers asked for flexibility to use contemporary materials. Committee members asked whether the bill should list specific materials or instead keep a short, standards-based phrase such as “weatherproof and structurally sound.” Representative Smith moved a friendly amendment urging that wording; after discussion she withdrew it and the committee left the original draft language in place.
Representative Harrelson, who said he has seen carved stone vault doors in the state, supported keeping some prescriptive language to ensure long-term protection of remains. “They carved them out and they’re like a vault door,” Harrelson said during the hearing.
There was no public comment on the bill. The committee then voted to pass House Bill 103. The roll call recorded yes votes from Representatives Aleman, Angelos, Harrelson, Pendergraft, Sherwood, Smith and Chairman Bair (7 ayes, 0 no). The bill will move forward with the committee’s recommendation to pass.
The bill notes the Department of Health will continue to regulate cemetery compliance but allows slate, sandstone, limestone, concrete block masonry or “any other material of similar properties” where those materials meet the statute’s structural and weatherproofing standards. The committee discussion repeatedly returned to a choice between a short, standards-based rule and a more prescriptive, state-by-state approach.
Committee members said the shorter, performance-based phrasing was intended to avoid future frequent statutory updates if new materials are introduced.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 103 — Motion to pass carried on roll call, 7–0.
The committee closed the item after the roll call and moved to the next bill.
