bill to let pets’ ashes rest with their owners

The text as introduced · 358 words

90R4018 LRM-D

By: Campos
H.B. No. 739

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the interment of certain cremated pet remains with

human remains in perpetual care cemeteries and an exemption from ad

valorem taxation for those cemeteries.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as Mona's Law.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 712, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 712.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 712.011. PET INTERMENT. (a) In this section:

(1) "Columbarium," "interment," and "memorial" have

the meanings assigned by Section 711.001.

(2) "Pet" means a domesticated animal that an

individual owns and keeps in or near the individual's household for

the primary purpose of companionship. The term does not include a

livestock animal as defined by Section 42.09, Penal Code.

(3) "Pet remains" means the remains of a pet carcass

that has been incinerated by an animal carcass incinerator for

which a permit has been issued by the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a perpetual care

cemetery may allow:

(1) pet remains of a pet previously owned by an

individual to be:

(A) buried at the time of a deceased individual's

interment in the individual's casket; or

(B) placed beside the individual's cremated

remains in a columbarium; and

(2) information about the pet to be included on the

individual's memorial.

(c) An individual may not euthanize a pet for the purpose of

interring the pet remains with a deceased individual.

SECTION 3. Section 11.17, Tax Code, is amended to read as

follows:

Sec. 11.17. CEMETERIES. A person is entitled to an

exemption from taxation of the property the person:

(1) [ he ] owns and uses exclusively for human burial or

for human and pet burial in accordance with Section 712.011, Health

and Safety Code; and

(2) does not hold for profit.

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Finance Commission of Texas shall adopt rules

necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.