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HB 1457 · 2026 · House · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Natural organic reduction of human remains

AI-generated

relative to natural organic reduction of human remains.

Permits the natural organic reduction, or composting, of human remains as an alternative method of body disposition and establishes a regulatory framework for the practice.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows for the natural organic reduction of human remains and provides for regulation of the practice.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The board shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of RSA 325-A relative to the cremation of human remains, and RSA 325-B, relative to natural organic reduction of human remains.”
RSA 325:8-a
“For purposes of this chapter, the delivery of the reduced remains to the authorizing agent or his or her representative shall constitute final disposition.”
RSA 325-B:23
“Chapter Construed. ?This chapter shall be construed and interpreted as a comprehensive natural organic reduction law, and the provisions of this chapter shall take precedence over any existing laws or rules that govern human remains that do not specifically address NOR.”
RSA 325-B:26
“When a body is to be stored, the burial permit shall be completed by the cemetery sexton where the body is entombed and sent to the clerk of the town or city where the storage vault is located.”
RSA 5-C:68

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jessica LaMontagneDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Allison KnabDRanking Member· Resources, Recreation, and Development
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Will DarbyD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is an option that should be made available. It will bring down the costs associated with burial, and is a more sustainable practice than using concrete liners, embalming fluids, or cremation.”
— Susan Richman, Durhamsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0560h10–4
    Overall
    71% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0560hadopted
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0560hAdopted301–48
    Overall
    86% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:21:46–1:22:551m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:56:45–1:57:591m 14slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:03:34–1:07:003m 26slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0560h — roll call; Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:49:52–1:54:184m 26slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0560h — adopted, division 301-48; Amendment # 2026-0560h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I1:06:46–1:08:181m 32slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance16:00–18:072m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floor59:30–1:00:2252slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary2:53:10–3:07:2914m 19slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:06:23–1:08:292m 6slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 21
  2. Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2026 10:30 am GP 153
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/04/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  4. Feb 11, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  5. Feb 11, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0560h 02/11/2026 (Vote 10-4; RC) HC 7 P. 32
  6. Feb 11, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0560h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 71
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0560h: MA DV 301-48 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 71
  9. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 71
  10. Mar 9, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  11. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  12. Mar 17, 2026House: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; RC)
  13. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 8
  14. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  15. Apr 7, 2026SenHearing: 04/07/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:50 pm; SC 13
  16. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 04/23/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 15A
  17. Apr 23, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.