AB 2542 Would Change Who May Control Disposition in Certain Abuse-Related Cases
California funeral establishments and cemeteries should watch AB 2542, “Marissa’s Law,” as the 2025–26 legislative session closes.
The enrolled bill would amend Health and Safety Code section 7100. When a funeral director or cemetery authority knows that the person otherwise holding the right of disposition was subject to a domestic-violence restraining order protecting the decedent at the time of death, the right would pass to the next eligible person in the statutory order of priority. The same would occur when a court determination or other legally determinative document specified by the bill shows that giving the person control would have been contrary to the decedent’s best interests.
The bill also states that a funeral director or cemetery authority would not face civil or criminal liability, or licensing discipline, for a determination made under the new provisions.
AB 2542 passed the Senate on August 19 and the Assembly on August 31. It was enrolled September 4 and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. on September 15. Status checked September 30, 2026: The official legislative history available at this check still lists September 15 as its latest action, when the bill was presented to the Governor. No signature or veto is recorded in that history. CDW is not reporting the measure as enacted law.
Operational takeaway: If the measure is signed, firms should update disposition-right checklists, train arrangement staff to recognize qualifying orders and documents, and establish a consistent escalation and documentation process. The final chaptered text and effective date should be reviewed before changing procedures.
Also: enrolled bill text; current tracker and action history
California Legislature bill status Source