House panel approves cutting required on‑site casket displays from eight to one

The Georgia House Regulated Industries Committee voted to advance House Bill 13-92, which would reduce the number of full-size caskets funeral homes must keep on-site. Representative Santos introduced the bill, saying modern families increasingly select from catalogs or digital displays and that smaller funeral homes need flexibility.

Dana Lemmon, who identified herself as a licensed funeral director and president of Lemmon and Sons Funeral Home, told the committee, “8 caskets is a requirement that I do not support,” and asked lawmakers to “give us the option” to use space for visitations and accessibility. She said families often make selections from price lists or digital options rather than in-person displays.

Committee members debated where to set a new minimum. After discussion, a member moved to amend the bill to require one on-site casket rather than four; the motion was seconded and the amendment passed. The bill as amended then received a committee aye and was referred to the rules committee for further consideration.

Proponents said the change is administrative and preserves consumer choice and price transparency while reducing burdens on smaller funeral homes. No member raised a statutory or constitutional objection on the record; legal or regulatory implementation details were not specified in committee. The committee did not record roll-call vote names in the transcript; the record shows voice votes and that the ayes carried.

If enacted, the bill would alter the statutory display requirement; the transcript does not specify the statute number to be amended or an effective date beyond discussion that the bill had not passed subcommittee previously. The committee advised sponsors to bring drafting details (including any language protecting consumer notice and access to full selection lists) to subsequent stages.