Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to License Funeral Industry Workers, Prevent More Tragedy

In an effort to protect Colorado families, a bipartisan bill would license those who work in the funeral industry and ensure proper oversight 

DENVER, CO – Following numerous tragedies occurring at funeral homes and crematories across Colorado, Senators Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, and Representatives Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Brianna Titone, D-Arvada, today unveiled bipartisan legislation to establish licensure of funeral professionals.

SB24-173 would align Colorado with the 49 other states that already require education, certification and licensure of those who work as funeral directors, mortuary scientists, cremationists, and embalmers. As of right now, Colorado is the only state in the nation without licensure for directors and employees of the funeral industry, and this lack of oversight and training has resulted in numerous tragic cases of funeral home mismanagement, mistreatment of human remains, and hundreds of impacted family members. 

“Colorado families continue to be victimized by our state’s lack of oversight of the funeral industry,” Roberts said. “This is a service that every family needs at some point and everyone should be able to trust that those who are caring for their loved ones’ remains have proper training, oversight, and accountability, just like many other professions and businesses. Enough is enough. We must pass this bill to bring our state in line with the rest of the nation, restore faith in this valuable industry, and to protect Coloradans.” 

“Our goal with licensing funeral home practitioners is to ensure we never hear horrific stories like Sunset Mesa, Return to Nature, or Apollo again,” said Soper. “By creating standards, an education and practicum requirement, and continuing education around ethics and healthy business practices, we will ensure restored integrity in Colorado’s funeral home industry.”

“Families deserve to have the dignity of their deceased loved one be honored, but because Colorado lacks proper regulation, bad actors have the ability to take advantage of our citizens at a vulnerable moment in their lives,” Titone said. “We've seen the sacred trust of families violated and laws are broken which is why we're running this bill.”

"Colorado is the only state that does not require licensure for funeral homes. This bill creates the necessary standards for those who work in funeral homes and mortuaries to ensure the negligent, even criminal misconduct that has occurred recently does not happen in the future. I am pleased to be a part of this bipartisan effort to protect Colorado families," Gardner said. 

"This legislation takes a balanced approach to ensure competency in the funeral industry while providing an appropriate pathway for licensure for those already working in the industry,” said Patty Salazar, Executive Director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies. 

SB24-173 would require an individual to obtain a license to practice as a funeral director, a mortuary science practitioner, an embalmer, a cremationist, or a natural reductionist starting January 1, 2026. To be eligible for a license, a person must have graduated from an accredited educational institution for that profession, passed the national board examination, completed an apprenticeship, and passed a criminal background check. Prior to that date, those currently working in the industry could obtain a provisional license by showing they have worked at least 6,500 hours in the field, completed an apprenticeship, and passed a criminal background check. 

SB24-173 is the result of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies recommendation in December that the state establish a licensure program.

SB24-173 has been assigned to the Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Committee and will have its first committee hearing in the coming weeks. Track the bill’s progress HERE, and learn more about the bill HERE.