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HB 1457-FN

relative to natural organic reduction of human remains.

Filed 2026 · Killed · Executive Departments and Administration · Occupational Regulation

Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗

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On the record

Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.

StatusSENATE
In the HousePASSED/ADOPTED
In the SenateINEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
Introduced1/7/2026
Floor date3/26/2026
LSR number2919
Local government impactno
Committee codeH34

Bill text (PDF) ↗

Where it stands

House: PASSED/ADOPTED · Senate: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

Every floor vote on this bill was a voice or division vote, so there is no record of how individual legislators voted.

Sponsors

LaMontagne, Jessica(D) Straf 17, Darby, Will(D) Hills 11, Innis, Daniel(R) Belk 7, Knab, Allison(D) Rock 12, Murphy, Keith(R) Hills 16, Watters, David(D) Straf 4
Prime sponsor in bold. From the General Court sponsor file.

What happened

Every action recorded in the official docket, in order. Each line ends with the journal or calendar that recorded it; where we have the document, that citation links to it.

Votes

Roll call tallies and individual votes from the General Court roll call files. Presiding, excused and absent are shown separately: one member presides over each House roll call and does not vote except to break a tie.

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0560h

February 19, 2026 · House · 301–48, adopted

Decided on a division vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Ought to Pass

March 26, 2026 · House · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Inexpedient to Legislate

April 23, 2026 · Senate · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Committee reports

Reproduced from the House Calendar in the committee’s own words.

Majority — OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT

Rep. Jaci Grote

This bill allows for the natural organic reduction of human remains and provides regulation for the practice. The bill is based on the statute for cremation since both processes involve changing the form of the deceased body and, currently, 80% of deceased in New Hampshire are cremated. The bill also addresses the requirement for the facility. The bill as amended addresses unclaimed remains, the need for a “natural organic reduction” certificate similar to the cremation certificate and clarify the “disposition container” questions that were raised during the hearing. The majority of the committee considered this bill an option for disposition of human remains upon death. Vote 10-4.

Minority — INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

Rep. Stephen Pearson

This bill is flawed, it is based on the current cremation statute. This process is very different from cremation, it is a 4 to 8 week process of composting a human corpse into a composted by product. Major concerns are: disease control regarding the by-product, water and air contamination, with PFAS, organic pathogens and other contaminants remaining in the composted remains. The composted remains are not approved for use in human food production. Other considerations are transportation, disposition, and retrieval issues, and it could be impractical as a form of disposition during an epidemic or pandemic.

Hearings and recordings

Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.

Page generated 2026-09-03 from data published by the New Hampshire General Court. Granite Record is an independent project, not affiliated with the General Court. The official record always takes precedence. Corrections: [email protected]