New jersey pushes law to allow human composting facilities

TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee has advanced Senate Bill No. 3007, which would legalize natural organic reduction — also known as human composting — as an alternative method of final disposition for deceased individuals.

The bill was proposed by New Jersey State Senator John Bramnick.

The bill updates state laws governing embalming and funeral directing to include the creation and regulation of natural organic reduction facilities. It authorizes the State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey to establish minimum standards for these facilities and the organic reduction process itself. Facilities would be required to obtain a certificate of registration from the board before commencing operations.

Under the proposed legislation, only individuals, partnerships, or corporations registered annually with the board would be allowed to operate such facilities. Additionally, both the facility’s registration certificate and the operator’s license must be prominently displayed. Licensed practitioners of mortuary science or funeral directors would be responsible for the supervision, direction, and management of each facility.

The facilities would also be subject to rules and regulations established to protect public health, safety, morals, and welfare.

Committee amendments clarify facility regulations

The committee made several amendments to the bill. Among them is a prohibition against operating natural organic reduction facilities at any location not specified in the certificate of registration issued by the State Board of Mortuary Science. Additional amendments updated the effective date of the bill and made technical corrections.

As amended, Senate Bill No. 3007 is now identical to Assembly Bill No. 4085 (2R), which was also reported out of committee.

If passed into law, New Jersey would join a growing number of states legalizing natural organic reduction as a more environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional burial and cremation.

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