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Senate committee hears emotional testimony on SB 84 to legalize natural organic reduction; some funeral directors oppose
Summary
Lawmakers heard emotional testimony for and against SB 84, a bill to authorize natural organic reduction (often described as human composting) as a regulated disposition option provided by licensed funeral establishments.
Senate Business and Labor heard extended testimony on SB 84, which would add natural organic reduction (NOR) as a regulated disposition option available through licensed funeral providers.
Sponsor Senator Plumb said the proposal mirrors earlier language used for alkaline hydrolysis and would restrict the practice to licensed funeral establishments using contained systems. Proponents described NOR as a contained, microbial process that returns transformed human remains to a soil-like product families may bury, scatter or use for reforestation; the sponsor said the bill includes language to prohibit using the resultant soil for food production.
Shana Starks, owner of a Salt Lake funeral parlor, described visiting licensed facilities in Colorado and Washington and said the process felt "incredibly dignified and beautiful." Several families and individuals testified they had chosen or would choose NOR for religious, environmental or personal reasons and said requiring travel out of state adds emotional and financial burden.
The Utah Funeral Directors Association, represented in testimony by Andrew Anderson and Tyler Russin, testified in opposition to SB 84. They asked for stricter regulation of soil handling, transportation and disclosure to future property owners. The association said states that legalized the practice subsequently added regulations and cautioned the committee to address real-estate disclosure and long-term public-health questions about soil return.
Following public testimony the committee agreed to move to the next agenda item rather than concluding full floor action on SB 84 in this hearing; the sponsor signaled willingness to work with stakeholders on licensing and disclosure language. The hearing included multiple emotional personal stories from families who had chosen out-of-state NOR and urged Utah legalization so families would not have to send remains out of state.
