Kentucky Senate Bill 27

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Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: Passed on April 13 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-13 - signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [PDF]

Amend KRS 72.450 to allow a coroner who is in possession of an unclaimed dead body to have the body buried or cremated; direct that the decision between burial or cremation be made by the governmental entity bearing the expense; require a coroner to be consulted before a government entity decides if an unclaimed dead body is required to be buried or cremated; establish that if Jewish descent is known, that the Chabad of the Bluegrass, or any successor entity, be contacted by the appropriate government entity to inquire if the Chabad of the Bluegrass wants to pay for the burial expense, or if known to be a member of a religious community, the appropriate government entity contact any such religious community that has expressed, in writing, a willingness to the local county coroner that it will pay for, or otherwise provide, the burial expense of the community's members.

AN ACT relating to cremation of dead bodies.

Sen. Greg Elkins [R]

Sen. Matthew Deneen [R]

2026-04-01 - Senate - Senate: Third Reading RSN# 4121 (Y: 37 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-04-01 - House - House: Veto Override RCS# 422 (Y: 76 N: 12 NV: 0 Abs: 12) [PASS]
2026-01-23 - Senate - Senate: Third Reading RSN# 3777 (Y: 35 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 3) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-04-13	Senate	signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 127)
2026-04-01	Senate	delivered to Governor
2026-04-01	Senate	enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
2026-04-01	Senate	enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
2026-04-01	Senate	passed 37-0
2026-04-01	Senate	Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1)
2026-04-01	Senate	posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1)
2026-04-01	Senate	to Rules (S)
2026-04-01	Senate	received in Senate
2026-04-01	House	3rd reading, passed 76-12 with Committee Substitute (1)
2026-04-01	House	Committee Substitute (1) adopted
2026-03-27	House	posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, March 31 2026
2026-03-25	House	2nd reading, to Rules
2026-03-24	House	reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
2026-03-05	House	to Local Government (H)
2026-01-27	House	to Committee on Committees (H)
2026-01-27	House	received in House
2026-01-23	Senate	3rd reading, passed with 35-0 Committee Substitute (1)
2026-01-22	Senate	posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 23, 2026
2026-01-22	Senate	2nd reading, to Rules
2026-01-21	Senate	reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
2026-01-12	Senate	to State & Local Government (S)
2026-01-06	Senate	to Committee on Committees (S)
2026-01-06	Senate	introduced in Senate

Type	Source
Summary	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb27.html
Text	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb27/orig_bill.pdf
Text	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/sb27/bill.pdf
Text	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/acts/26RS/documents/0127.pdf
Amendment	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/SB27/SCS1.pdf
Supplement	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb27/SCS1LM.pdf
Amendment	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/SB27/HCS1.pdf
Supplement	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb27/HCS1LM.pdf
Supplement	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/sb27/LM.pdf
Roll Call	https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/sb27/vote_history.pdf