S.B. No. 1300         AN ACT   relating to the disposition and removal of a decedent's remains.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 711.004(a), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  Remains interred in a cemetery may be removed from a   plot in the cemetery with the written consent of the cemetery   organization operating the cemetery and the written consent of the   current plot owner or owners and the following persons, in the   priority listed:                (1)  the person designated in a written instrument   signed by the decedent, as described by Section 711.002(a)(1);                (2)  the decedent's surviving spouse;                (3)  any one of [(2)] the decedent's surviving adult   children;                (4)  either one of [(3)] the decedent's surviving   parents;                (5)  any one of [(4)] the decedent's surviving adult   siblings;                (6)  any one of the duly qualified executors or   administrators of the decedent's estate; or                (7)  any [(5) the] adult person in the next degree of   kinship in the order named by law to inherit the estate of the   decedent.          SECTION 2.  Section 711.002(b), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The written instrument referred to in Subsection (a)(1)   may be in substantially the following form:   APPOINTMENT FOR DISPOSITION OF REMAINS          I, ____________________________________________________,   (your name and address)   being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known my desire   that, upon my death, the disposition of my remains shall be   controlled by _________________________________________________   (name of agent)   in accordance with Sections [Section] 711.002 and 711.004, Health   and Safety Code, and, with respect to that subject only, I hereby   appoint such person as my agent (attorney-in-fact).          All decisions made by my agent with respect to the   disposition of my remains, including cremation, shall be binding.   SPECIAL DIRECTIONS:          Set forth below are any special directions limiting the power   granted to my agent:   ________________________________________________________________   ________________________________________________________________   ________________________________________________________________   ________________________________________________________________   ________________________________________________________________   AGENT:          Name: ____________________________________________________          Address: _________________________________________________          Telephone Number: ________________________________________   SUCCESSORS:          If my agent or a successor agent dies, becomes legally   disabled, resigns, or refuses to act, or if my marriage to my agent   or successor agent is dissolved by divorce, annulled, or declared   void before my death and this instrument does not state that the   agent or successor agent continues to serve after my marriage to   that agent or successor agent is dissolved by divorce, annulled, or   declared void, I hereby appoint the following persons (each to act   alone and successively, in the order named) to serve as my agent   (attorney-in-fact) to control the disposition of my remains as   authorized by this document:          1.  First Successor          Name: ____________________________________________________          Address: _________________________________________________          Telephone Number: ________________________________________          2.  Second Successor          Name: ____________________________________________________          Address: _________________________________________________          Telephone Number: ________________________________________   DURATION:          This appointment becomes effective upon my death.   PRIOR APPOINTMENTS REVOKED:          I hereby revoke any prior appointment of any person to   control the disposition of my remains.   RELIANCE:          I hereby agree that any cemetery organization, business   operating a crematory or columbarium or both, funeral director or   embalmer, or funeral establishment who receives a copy of this   document may act under it.  Any modification or revocation of this   document is not effective as to any such party until that party   receives actual notice of the modification or revocation.  No such   party shall be liable because of reliance on a copy of this   document.   ASSUMPTION:          THE AGENT, AND EACH SUCCESSOR AGENT, BY ACCEPTING THIS   APPOINTMENT, ASSUMES THE OBLIGATIONS PROVIDED IN, AND IS BOUND BY   THE PROVISIONS OF, SECTIONS [SECTION] 711.002 AND 711.004, HEALTH   AND SAFETY CODE.   SIGNATURES:          This written instrument and my appointments of an agent and   any successor agent in this instrument are valid without the   signature of my agent and any successor agents below.  Each agent,   or a successor agent, acting pursuant to this appointment must   indicate acceptance of the appointment by signing below before   acting as my agent.          Signed this ________ day of _________________, 20___.   ___________________   (your signature)   State of ____________________   County of ___________________          This document was acknowledged before me on ______ (date) by   _____________________________ (name of principal).   _________________________________   (signature of notarial officer)   (Seal, if any, of notary)   _________________________________   (printed name)   My commission expires:   _________________________________   ACCEPTANCE AND ASSUMPTION BY AGENT:          I have no knowledge of or any reason to believe this   Appointment for Disposition of Remains has been revoked. I hereby   accept the appointment made in this instrument with the   understanding that I will be individually liable for the reasonable   cost of the decedent's interment, for which I may seek   reimbursement from the decedent's estate.          Acceptance of Appointment: _______________________________   (signature of agent)          Date of Signature: _______________________________________          Acceptance of Appointment: _______________________________   (signature of first successor)          Date of Signature: _______________________________________          Acceptance of Appointment: _______________________________   (signature of second successor)          Date of Signature: ________________________________________          SECTION 3.  Section 711.002, Health and Safety Code, as   amended by this Act, applies only to the validity of a written   instrument executed on or after the effective date of this Act. The   validity of a written instrument executed before the effective date   of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the   instrument was executed, and that law continues in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1300 passed the Senate on   March 23, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1300 passed the House on   May 16, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0,   one present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor