Bill exempting nonprofits from cemetery surcharge now law

Gov. Chris Christie has signed a bill into law that gives nonprofit and religious groups an exemption from the 15 percent fee cemetery companies charge for transferring burial rights.

Christie had conditionally vetoed a bill in November and asked lawmakers to add language to the bill to clarify the exemption would apply only to nonprofit and religious groups.

The Assembly passed the bill in December, while the state Senate passed it this week.

The new law’s sponsors sought to reduce the financial burden on groups that buy multiple graves, crypts or niches and then convey those plots to their members.

Christie had said he was concerned the original bill was too broad and could hurt the fund to preserve cemeteries in New Jersey.