No state requires monument dealers to carry a license. No federal agency regulates headstone sales. The FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453) defines a 'funeral provider' as one who sells funeral goods AND funeral services — excluding standalone monument dealers. This tracker compiles deathcare consumer protection legislation across the United States: bills proposed, bills passed, and the regulatory gaps that remain.
The FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453) defines a “funeral provider” as one who sells funeral goods AND funeral services. The word “and” excludes standalone monument dealers who sell only goods. They are not required to provide a General Price List, comply with the Rule's disclosure requirements, or face FTC enforcement.
No state requires monument dealers to carry a license. Anyone can start a headstone business with no training, no bonding, and no oversight. The Stefan family operated across PA, NJ, and DE through multiple shell companies without any regulatory barrier.
Connecticut just passed the nation's first funeral fraud victim compensation fund — but it only covers prepaid funeral service contracts. The Stefan victims bought headstones. Their losses would not be covered.
Sorted by status — signed laws first
Signed by Governor Ned Lamont on May 19, 2026. Public hearing March 12, 2026. Joint Favorable Report filed March 30, 2026.
“No family should have to endure the emotional and financial pain of losing a loved one and then discover the money they trusted someone with was mishandled or stolen. This legislation is about accountability and making sure victims have a path toward being made whole. — Rep. Tammy Nuccio (R-Tolland)”
First-in-nation funeral fraud victim compensation fund. Named victims in JFR testimony document losses totaling $50,000+ across at least 6 individuals. Two funeral homes involved: Pietras Family Funeral Homes and Burke Fortin Funeral Home.
Signed into law 2024. Prompted by Return to Nature/Hallford case — 190+ decaying bodies found at a fraudulent funeral home in Penrose, CO (October 2023). Owner Megan Hess and mother Joni Caryer convicted.
Colorado previously had ZERO regulation of funeral homes — no inspection requirements, no licensing for operators. This bill was the state's first meaningful deathcare oversight legislation.
Existing statute. New York is one of the few states with monument-specific consumer protection law.
New York is the ONLY state in the tri-state area (NY/NJ/PA) with a monument-specific consumer protection statute. PA and NJ rely on general consumer protection laws.
Existing statute. One of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country.
NJ has a specific 2015 law banning religious cemeteries from selling headstones directly to consumers, protecting independent dealers from that competition. The CFA applies to those dealers but does not provide proactive oversight.
Introduced in 2025-2026 session. Addresses backyard burial practices on private property.
Covered by Obitley July 3, 2026.
Passed PA House 199-0 on March 23, 2026. Senate companion bill (SB 950) stalled in committee since July 2025.
Senate companion (SB 950, Sen. Nick Pisciottano) referred to Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee July 23, 2025. No committee meetings held. Bill is effectively dead unless Senate acts.
How each state handles (or doesn't handle) monument dealer oversight
| State | Governing Law | Approach | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) | General consumer protection — no monument-specific statute. PA AG used UTPCPL to sue Stefan Sr. (2015) and Stefan Jr. (2021). Allows restitution, civil penalties, and permanent bans. | No licensing. No bonding. No inspection. No required written contract. No compensation fund. |
| New Jersey | Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) | Strong general consumer protection — treble damages and attorney's fees. One of the strongest CFA laws in the country. | No monument-specific requirements. No licensing. No proactive oversight. No compensation fund. |
| New York | General Business Law § 454 & § 454-a | Monument-specific regulation — written contracts required with delivery date, price, description, and seller contact. Unsolicited mail offers must be marked 'SOLICITATION.' | No licensing. No bonding. No compensation fund. But strongest monument-specific protections in the tri-state area. |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) | General consumer protection. CT also criminalizes theft or unlawful possession of gravestones. HB-5381 now adds victim compensation for prepaid funeral service fraud. | No monument-specific statute. No licensing of monument dealers. HB-5381 does NOT cover standalone headstone purchases. |
| Colorado | SB 24-132 (2024) — Crematory Regulation | Annual registration of crematories, unannounced inspections, penalties for improper handling. First meaningful deathcare oversight in state history. | No compensation fund. Does not address monument sales or prepaid funeral fraud. |
| Delaware | Delaware Consumer Fraud Act | General consumer protection. Stefan victims in DE have no deathcare-specific protections. | No monument regulation. No licensing. No compensation fund. No deathcare-specific oversight. |
The FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453, adopted 1984) defines a 'funeral provider' as one who sells funeral goods AND funeral services — the word 'and' excludes standalone monument dealers who sell only goods. Monument dealers are not required to provide a General Price List, comply with the Rule's disclosure requirements, or face FTC enforcement under the Funeral Rule.
No state requires monument dealers to carry a license to operate. Anyone can start a monument business with no training, no bonding, and no oversight. The Stefan family operated across PA, NJ, and DE through multiple shell companies (1843 LLC, Colonial Memorials, Lifestone by Stefan LLC, Stefan Memorials Inc.) without any regulatory barrier.
Gregory J. Stefan Jr. defrauded nearly 500 families out of $1.5+ million by selling headstones and cemetery markers he never delivered. He used obituaries to target grieving families. His businesses operated across three states with no regulatory barrier. Connecticut just passed the nation's first funeral fraud victim compensation fund — but it only covers prepaid funeral SERVICE contracts. The Stefan victims bought headstones. Their losses would not be covered by CT's new law, and no equivalent fund exists in PA, NJ, or DE.
As of July 11, 2026
Legislation verified against state legislature bill tracking systems, BillTrack50, and official state government sources. Regulatory framework verified against state consumer protection statutes and the FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453). Case data cross-referenced with DOJ press releases and court filings.
This tracker is maintained by Obitley as part of its ongoing investigation into deathcare consumer protection failures. Legislation is verified against official state legislature sources.
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