Data Shows COVID-19 Impact on Funeral Service is Significant

NFDA 2022 Cremation and Burial Report Shows Nearly Half of Members Now Offer Online Cremation Burial Arrangements with the Cremation Rate Across the Nation Expected to Exceed 50% by 2035   Brookfield, Wis.– The long-lasting repercussions of the COVID-19 are only just now being fully understood as data from the last two years becomes more widely accessible. Data from the 2022 Cremation and Burial Report, released by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), shows that …

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2022 AFCCA 12th Annual Conference Recap

Another conference has come and gone! This year’s theme was to “Tell Your Story” where attendees, speakers and supplier/service partners were encouraged to share how they entered into the death care profession and why they are passionate to continue. These stories are incredibly powerful, and it enlightened so many of us to hear from people we have known and worked with for so long. During the opening ceremonies, we welcomed the Phoenix Fire Department Honor …

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HB2123 Next Steps

The association has been very actively involved this past legislative session on HB2123. Originally there was no continuation bill meaning that there would not have been a board as of June 30. The bill that was introduced and then passed will give us the opportunity to meet with legislators to work over the summer and into next legislative session on what the future of the board looks like. We and the members are of course …

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May 20 Advocacy Update: Capitol Consulting Legislative Update

Day 131 – We are happy to report that on Wednesday, HB2123: FUNERALS; REGULATION; CONTINUATION, unanimously passed the full Senate by a vote of 25-0-5. The bill is now being transmitted to the House for concurrence. Once the House concurs with the amendments, it will then receive a final vote in the House. We will continue to meet with House members to explain the importance of the bill. As for Rep. Michelle Udall’s (LD-25) HB2024: …

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May 13 Advocacy Update: Capitol Consulting Legislative Update

Day 124 – Continuing a trend of the past few weeks, both chambers adjourned early this week. After calendaring only two bills, the House adjourned for the week on Monday, with the Senate following suit on Tuesday after calendaring four bills. This is primarily the result of stalled budget negotiations which seem to have made little progress over the past month. Late last week, the Governor signed a bill placing additional checks and balances on the Executive’s emergency powers. Introduced …

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May 6 Advocacy Update: Capitol Consulting Legislative Update

This update is provided by Courtney Gilstrap LeVinus Capitol Consulting, LLC Courtney@azcapitolconsulting.com Day 117 – Another very slow week at the Capitol.  In fact, in what seems to be a trend lately, the Senate adjourned for the week on Wednesday after only calendaring nine bills.  All of this is due to a budget impasse within the majority party.  Because of this slowdown, both AZFCCA priority bills are in limbo like many other bills in the Senate.  Making …

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April 28 Advocacy Update: HB2123 & HB2024

The legislature once again had a very slow week. Yesterday, both the House and Senate adjourned early and won’t be back until Monday. The slowdown is largely attributed to the budget standstill, though there are some rumblings that the budget could pick up some steam in the next couple of weeks. One of the bigger developments for the budget was last week’s AZ Supreme Court ruling that rejected the November referendum related to last year’s …

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HB2123 – Funeral Board Extension Bill Timeline

April 18, 2022 HB2123 Funeral Board Extension Bill passed unanimously through Senate Rule with no comments or discussion. It is scheduled to be heard in caucus on April 19, which does not require a vote, it is an opportunity for the bill to be heard by all the members of the Senate. There are no actions to be taken at this time. April 15, 2022 HB2123 Funeral Board Extension Bill is on the Senate Rules …

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April 7, 2023 Advocacy Update

Today, we met with Senate Majority Staff to discuss HB2123, the implications of the bill, and most importantly, the bill’s intent.  As you know, HB2123 continues the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, but only until March 31, 2023. The bill also redefines “licensed” persons as “registered” persons. Initially we were under the impression that bill was introduced with the sole intention of deregulating the industry, similar to what has happened with several regulatory …

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April 1, 2022 Advocacy Update: HB2123 Striker Language Adopted

Good Afternoon,Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your support of me as the AFCCA President.  I have and always will support the best interests of the funeral profession.  Your AFCCA board of directors has had the opportunity to present the best of themselves and made a contribution toward meaningful dialogue.  Being present and being heard is the only way change is made. Today, through a continuing resolution, the Arizona State Senate, specifically the appropriations committee, Unanimously …

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