Georgia House approves bill to strengthen cemetery protections and descendant access

The Georgia House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 146, a measure intended to expand protections for cemeteries and burial grounds and to standardize processes for disinterment and disturbance permits.

Representative Jesse Petrie presented the bill and said it "improves the process" for handling disinterment permits and strengthens notice and hearing requirements for disturbances to burial grounds. The measure also establishes minimum requirements when creating private cemeteries on private property, including a half‑acre deed requirement described in the text.

Petrie told members the bill requires a court order authorizing disinterment in certain cases, and it sets procedures to ensure descendants receive notice and an opportunity for public hearings if a cemetery is disturbed or access is restricted.

The committee report favoring the bill was agreed without objection and the House recorded a vote; the clerk announced yeas 163 and nays 2.

Sponsors framed SB 146 as a response to constituent concerns about family access to burial sites and as a way to provide more consistent statewide rules while preserving local jurisdiction roles.

After the vote, the House recessed for lunch and scheduled routine business for the afternoon.