AFCCA Legislative Update – January 16, 2026

Provided by Capitol Consulting, LLC This past week, over a thousand bills were introduced, of those, several would directly impact the Funeral Industry, including: HB 2181 (death certificates; funeral establishments; timeline): Sponsored by Representative Julie Willoughby, this bill would extend the deadline for death certificates from 7 days to 21 days. HB 2184 (fetal death; funeral homes): Sponsored by Representative Julie Willoughby, this bill would expand fetal death certificate registration to allow submissions at or …

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2026 CANA Learning Paths for Funeral Professionals at all Levels

Prepare for the future with cremation-first education: CANA offers online and in-person programs for every role 2026 marks a historic milestone: the sesquicentennial of modern cremation in the United States. Now that 150 years have passed since the first cremation in a modern crematory, this anniversary is more than a celebration of the past; it’s an opportunity to reflect on how far the profession has come and to look ahead at the innovations shaping its …

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AFCCA 2025 Year-End Report

Dear AFCCA Members, What a year. As we wrap up 2025, we want to take a moment to thank each of you for being part of this community — your time, energy, feedback, and commitment to professionalism and compassion keep AFCCA alive and growing. What We’ve Accomplished Together Providing Critical Updates & Regulatory Guidance This year, we shared regular updates on the rule-making process by Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) for the new Human …

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The 2025 AFCCA Fall Mixer: Community, Connection and a Whole Lot of Fun

If you were anywhere near O.H.S.O. Brewery & Distillery during this year’s AFCCA Fall Mixer, you probably heard the laughter, the clinking glasses and the unmistakable sound of Arizona deathcare professionals letting loose after a long year. More than 170 people showed up ready to connect, celebrate and support a great cause, and our community absolutely delivered. From the first check-in to the last raffle ticket, the room stayed buzzing. Our members showed up with …

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December 2025 Legislative Update from Capitol Consulting

Posted on Behalf of Capitol Consulting 2025 Session Recap After a tense 169- day session marked by a record number of vetoes and three different proposed budgets, the Legislature adjourned Sine Die on Friday, June 27 and 1:20pm, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. Lawmakers passed a record 438 bills and 174 were vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs. Ultimately the Legislature approved a $17.6 billion bipartisan budget, negotiated primarily by the Senate and the Governor. 2026 …

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Newly Posted Revised Consolidated Draft Rules

AZDHS has posted the Revised Consolidated Draft Rules  for the Human Remains rulemaking, which includes Articles 1 through 4. The Online Survey will remain open through December 7, 2025. Your expertise and input is greatly valued, and AZDHS looks forward to receiving your feedback on the proposed rules.

Recent Observations During Compliance Inspections

If your funeral establishment or crematory receives a notice from the Department, it means a compliance inspection will take place within the next six months. These inspections are always unannounced, so the best way to approach them is to be prepared in advance. The following is not an exhaustive list of items that will be reviewed during a compliance inspection. Rather, the information below highlights common trends and observations identified during recent compliance inspections. Crematory Premises: …

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New Remembering A Life Conversation Cards Introduced to Help Funeral Professionals Work With Families to Plan Meaningful Funerals

Suite of Conversation Cards Now Covers Every Step of the Journey: Preplanning, Funeral Planning and Aftercare Remembering A Life, the consumer education initiative of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), has introduced two new decks of conversation cards that funeral directors can use to inspire the families they serve to plan meaningful tributes to loved ones. Remembering A Life Funeral Planning Conversation Cards are brand new to the Remembering A Life Conversation Card suite. These …

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AZDHS October Meeting Notes and Consolidated Draft Rules

AFCCA is sharing the following update from the Arizona Department of Health Services regarding the ongoing Human Remains Rulemaking process. The meeting notes from the October 2, 2025, Workgroup Meeting have been posted. In addition, the consolidated draft rules for the Human Remains Rulemaking, which include Articles 1 through 4, are now available for review. An online survey is open through November 9, 2025, giving all industry professionals the opportunity to provide input and ensure …

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Notice of Comments and Department’s Responses for September Draft of Article 4

The Bureau of Licensing for Professions & Occupations (BLPO), has posted Comments about September Draft for Article 4 and Department Responses on the Administrative Counsel & Rules Active Rulemakings webpage for Human Remains (Funeral Board Incorporation). The comment/response document includes the Department’s responses to feedback submitted through the public surveys that closed on September 14, 2025 and October 5, 2025.  These responses are being shared to help licensees understand how the feedback was considered and …

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