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Sponsor reintroduces bill to authorize human composting and water cremation; Department of Health requests regulatory detail
Summary
Representative Magogia reintroduced House Bill 5110 to permit natural organic reduction (human composting) and added alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation); sponsor said nearby states already allow these disposition methods and the Department of Health raised questions about regulatory specifics and enforcement costs.
Representative Magogia reintroduced House Bill 5110 to allow natural organic reduction (also called human composting) and, in an amended form this year, to add alkaline hydrolysis (sometimes called water cremation) as lawful methods of human disposition in the state.
The sponsor said interest from funeral businesses prompted an amendment to add alkaline hydrolysis; she noted that natural organic reduction is authorized in about 12 states and alkaline hydrolysis in about 28 states, including neighboring states. She said businesses have approached her seeking to provide these services in Rhode Island and that adding statutory authorization would enable licensing and oversight.
The Department of Health submitted a letter raising concerns about language clarity, licensing parameters and potential staffing or compliance costs. The sponsor said she would work with the department to refine regulatory detail and noted that licensing and inspection functions are already contracted for in Rhode Island for similar facilities. The committee did not take a final vote; the bill was held for further study under the committee’s procedural motion.
