HB 25-1217

House Bill 25-1217, also known as the Funeral Services and Consumer Protections Act, clarifies that preneed contracts do not cover transportation services for human remains. It also makes it illegal under Colorado law for funeral directors to steal money paid by clients or potential clients for funeral services. Additionally, the bill delays a requirement for certain funeral industry professionals to have 4,000 hours of work experience until January 1, 2027, instead of January 1, 2026. This bill is now signed into law and will protect consumers from deceptive practices in the funeral services industry.

Official Summary

Under current law, a "preneed contract" is a contract, agreement, or mutual understanding, or any security or other instrument that is convertible into a contract, agreement, or mutual understanding, whereby, upon the death of the preneed contract beneficiary, a final resting place, merchandise, or services are provided or performed in connection with the final disposition of the beneficiary's body. The act states that a preneed contract does not include a transportation protection agreement, which is an agreement that primarily provides for the coordination and arrangement, by a third party that is not a general provider, of services related to: The preparation of human remains for the purpose of transportation; or The transportation of human remains. The act also makes it a deceptive trade practice under the "Colorado Consumer Protection Act" as well as an unlawful act under the "Mortuary Science Code" for a funeral director to commit theft of money that a client or prospective client paid for funeral services. The act also changes the date by which an applicant for a provisional funeral director, mortuary science practitioner, embalmer, cremationist, or natural reductionist license must demonstrate at least 4,000 hours of work experience from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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