Recently, people across the Lone Star State may have heard stories about the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC). It’s been a tumultuous time for the official entity that oversees funeral services in Texas. Since the start of the year there have been several high profile controversies that the Commission has investigated, but that’s not the end of the issues.
Not long ago the Executive Director of the TFSC, Scott Bingaman, was fired. The Commission members voted to remove him from the position, but before they did Bingaman made some serious allegations about the TFSC and their mishandling of deathcare services in Texas.
With all the drama, some people may be questioning the funeral services they receive and their oversight in the state. But don’t worry. Our team is here to provide some perspective and reassurance in a time when it’s needed the most.
The Role of the TFSC Executive Director
Before we get into the details, it’s worth clarifying what the Executive Director does at the Texas Funeral Services Commission. The TFSC website notes that the Executive Director is appointed by the Commission members to act as the “customer service representative” for the organization.
As the customer service representative, the Executive Director hears concerns from the public, addresses those concerns, and represents the TFSC publicly. The Executive Director is tasked with handling the concerns, and when that’s not possible they will direct the concern to the Commissioners.
All that is a way of saying that the Executive Director acts as a middle man to ensure Texans are taken care of and the Commission is viewed as a positive, honest organization that’s proactive in protecting Texas consumers.
The issue at hand has been whether Texans believe the TFSC has been acting in good faith and overseeing deathcare services responsibly. It’s been questioned, and the Commission’s latest actions are being questioned further.
Why Commission Members Voted to Remove the TFSC Executive Director
First, let’s address the reasoning behind the seven Commission members choosing to unanimously remove Mr. Bingaman from his position. While the actual vote took place during a public TFSC meeting, there apparently was a private meeting prior to Bingaman’s removal before that.
The firing came after a few major controversies in the Texas funeral industry that called the TFSC into question. Obviously, the argument for Bingaman’s removal was that he failed to properly address consumer concerns and represent the TFSC effectively. However, the intent behind the firing may not ever be fully known.
The Commissioners discussed the matter of removing Bingaman in a closed session shortly before the public meeting during which the members voted to fire him. This is an important point for how the issue is now playing out and what could happen moving forward.
Allegations of Commissioner Misconduct at the TFSC Prior to the Firing
What’s more concerning than the removal of Mr. Bingaman are allegations that he made around the same time, which affects anyone in the state who needs deathcare services. Bingaman claimed in a letter sent to the Commissioners the day before his removal that the Commissioners are at fault for the TFSC’s failure to handle the recent controversies in a responsible manner.
Furthermore, he provided some clarification on an issue that is at the center of it all.
During the ongoing investigations, Bingaman sent a letter to Governor Abbot on June 13, 2025 that included the suggestion to cap the maximum payout that families would receive in lawsuits against funeral homes in Texas.
Bingaman claimed that Commissioner Kristin Tipps acted inappropriately and provided him with misinformation for personal benefit when she requested that the payout caps be included along with updates to the TFSC’s jurisdiction over cemetery construction regulations and body donations.
He provided a timeline of what happened, claiming that Tipps asked him to send Governor Gregg Abbot the letter. The suggestions Tipps asked him to include were “self-serving” in his opinion since Tipps owns a funeral home in the San Antonio area.
Bingaman also stated that the misconduct extended beyond Tipps actions, suggesting that there is wide-spread mismanagement. Although Bingaman seemed to see the writing on the wall with his firing, he made it known he felt removal would be inappropriate because the recent funeral home controversies were due to the shortcomings of the Commissioners. He went so far as to state, “the rot in the Commission extends beyond Tipps.”
What’s Ahead For the Texas Funeral Services Commission
TFSC staff have said that investigations into the recent questionable practices of several funeral homes will continue and won’t be impacted by Bingaman’s firing. They also expressed their own support for Bingaman who was just hired in September 2024. The fact that the TFSC staff has stood behind Bingaman is telling.
Staff members also pointed out that the Commissioners could have violated the Open Meetings Act when they had a closed door discussion about Bingaman’s removal. The drama is also making some people question the selection of the TFSC’s Commissioners. All of the Commissioners are appointed by the governor, and three of the seven work in the funeral industry. Two Commissioners operate funeral homes and one operates a crematorium. While it is important to have the perspectives of professionals in the funeral industry, the question is whether it’s appropriate for them to be in a position of regulating the industry.
Texas families know one thing for sure – they can count on Cremation.Green to provide consistent death care services no matter what’s happening with the TFSC. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and have been outspoken advocates for Texas consumers in regards to death care equality, access and environmental protection.
If you would like to speak with us directly about any of these matters, please call or text us at any time of day.
