Kristin Tips is no longer serving as presiding officer of the Texas Funeral Service Commission, marking the latest development in months-long controversy surrounding the troubled state agency.<\/p>\n
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office confirmed her departure in a statement to KERA News, but did not clarify whether Tips resigned or was removed. The news was first reported by the Houston Chronicle<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernor Abbott appreciates Kristin Tips\u2019 service,\u201d said Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris. \u201cAn announcement on a replacement will be made at a later date.\u201d<\/p>\n Tips, a San Antonio funeral executive who has led Mission Park Funeral Chapels alongside her husband, was first appointed to the commission in 2017 and named chair in May 2024.<\/p>\n Her exit comes as the agency faces mounting scrutiny over internal turmoil, legal battles and allegations of misconduct.<\/p>\n The agency \u2014 which regulates funeral homes, crematories and body donation programs in Texas \u2014 made headlines in 2025 when commissioners fired executive director Scott Bingaman<\/a> less than a year into his tenure. Before his termination, Bingaman accused Tips of using agency resources to benefit her private business interests and engaging in improper lobbying tied to proposed legislation.<\/p>\n Tips and other commissioners denied those claims and countered in legal filings that Bingaman mismanaged funds and undermined the agency. His lawsuit against the commission is ongoing.<\/p>\n Additional firings followed, including senior staff and attorneys. Former employees and critics have also raised broader concerns about potential conflicts of interest and “regulatory capture,”<\/a> given that industry professionals like Tips are appointed to oversee the funeral sector they work in.<\/p>\n