NOR Legislation Pending States 2026: Which States Are About to Legalize Terramation? (colloquially referred to as human composting)
Last Updated: October 2026 | This tracker is updated periodically. Bookmark this page, and confirm the latest bill status on your state’s official legislature website.
As of October 2026, natural organic reduction (NOR) — the process formally known as terramation or natural organic reduction — is legal in 14 U.S. states. At least ten additional states have active or recently active NOR legislation that has not been enacted. Illinois now has the most advanced live bill: HB 5425 passed the House 64–36 on April 17, 2026 and has been waiting in the Senate Assignments Committee since April 21. Oklahoma’s HB 3660 went further, passing both chambers, but the Governor vetoed it on May 12, 2026, so Oklahoma is not a legal NOR state and a new bill would be needed. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Utah, Hawaii, and Texas round out the most closely watched states. For funeral home operators tracking NOR legislation pending states 2026, this page collects current bill status, likelihood assessments, and preparation guidance for the pre-legalization window.
Which states are about to legalize natural organic reduction (terramation) in 2026, and where does each pending bill currently stand?
As of October 2026, Illinois has the most advanced live NOR bill. Illinois HB 5425 passed the House 64–36 on April 17, 2026 and is in the Senate Assignments Committee; it has to pass the Senate before the 104th General Assembly ends in January 2027, and the fall veto session is the main remaining window this year. Oklahoma HB 3660 passed both chambers but was vetoed by the Governor on May 12, 2026, so NOR is not legal in Oklahoma and a new bill would be needed in the session that convenes in February 2027. Utah and Hawaii both missed their 2026 session windows and are targeting 2027. Texas's biennial legislature does not reconvene until January 2027. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Indiana have bills in earlier stages. No pending-state legalization is guaranteed.
- As of October 2026, at least 10 states have active or recently active NOR legislation that has not been enacted. Illinois HB 5425 (House-passed 64–36, awaiting the Senate) is the most advanced live bill; Oklahoma HB 3660 cleared both chambers but was vetoed on May 12, 2026.
- Legal status is not the same as availability. As of October 2026, NOR is legal in 14 states and in effect in 13 (California's AB 351 takes effect January 1, 2027), and in several legal states no licensed in-state facility is operating yet, so a signed bill does not immediately open the door for families or funeral homes.
- The realistic window from a bill signing to a funeral home's first NOR case is 12 to 36 months, driven by post-signing rulemaking, licensing timelines, and facility build-out — making pre-legalization preparation the single biggest factor in operational readiness.
- Utah's SB 0049 advanced furthest of any prior Utah NOR bill — clearing committee and a 16–10 floor vote on second reading — before stalling on scheduling when the session adjourned March 6, 2026; the 2027 annual session is the next window.
- Hawaii's HB 747 missed the March 12, 2026 crossover deadline, foreclosing 2026 passage; Hawaii's 77% cremation rate signals strong latent demand, but ocean freight logistics make early equipment planning a competitive necessity no mainland operator faces.
- There are no legal barriers in any pending state to staff education, facility assessment, regulatory research, or provider relationship-building, and funeral homes that complete these steps before their state legalizes are positioned to launch as soon as licensing opens rather than starting from zero.
How Many States Have Legalized Natural Organic Reduction — and How Many Are Next?
NOR has expanded from a single legal state in 2019 to 14 legal states today. Washington was first (2019), followed by Colorado and Oregon (2021), Vermont, California, and New York (2022), Nevada (2023), Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, and Maine (2024), and Georgia and New Jersey (2025).
The national cremation rate has reached 63.4% (NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report), reflecting a permanent shift in how American families approach final disposition. Families in pending states are already asking funeral homes about NOR — and in some cases arranging out-of-state transport to access it today. When your state legalizes, that demand does not need to be created. It needs to be captured.
Oklahoma’s 2026 session is the most instructive recent signal. Oklahoma is not a state typically associated with progressive end-of-life legislation, yet HB 3660 passed the House 59–37 on March 24, 2026 and the Senate 28–18 on May 5, 2026, a sign that NOR has become a consumer rights and professional services issue, not an ideological one. The Governor vetoed the bill on May 12, 2026, and no override was recorded, so the count of legal states stays at 14. The lesson for operators in pending states: legislative support can build faster than expected, and a single veto can still reset the clock. Operators watching Oklahoma are wise to start building their preparation now.
Legal status is not the same as availability: in several of the 14 legal states, no licensed in-state facility is operating yet. For state-by-state detail, see our complete state-by-state NOR guide.
What “Pending,” “Legal,” and “Available In-State” Actually Mean for Funeral Homes
These three terms are frequently conflated, but the distinctions have direct implications for operator timelines.
Available in-state means the law is in effect, regulations are in place, facility licenses have been issued, and families can access NOR from a licensed provider in-state today. Washington, Colorado, and Oregon have long-established licensed providers. In other legal states, confirm with the state regulator or our state guide before telling families NOR is offered locally.
Legal means a law has been enacted. That is the start of the process, not the end: the law has to take effect, the regulator has to put rules in place, and a facility has to be licensed and open before families can be served in-state. In several of the 14 legal states, no licensed in-state facility is operating yet. As of October 2026, a few examples show how much the timelines vary:
- California: AB 351 (signed 2022) takes effect January 1, 2027. The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau published proposed facility licensing rules on August 14, 2026; written comments closed September 28, 2026, and final adoption is pending. No California facility can operate before January 1, 2027, and then only once licensed.
- New York: A382/S5535 was signed December 30, 2022. The State Cemetery Board’s NOR rules took effect August 7, 2024, and only cemetery corporations may operate NOR facilities in the state.
- New Jersey: A4085/S3007 (P.L. 2025, c.143) took effect July 1, 2026. Check with the State Board of Mortuary Science for current licensing status.
- Arizona and Minnesota: both legalized NOR in 2024, and their state regulators adopted NOR rules in 2026. Minnesota’s rules take effect once the adoption notice is published in the State Register.
Pending legislation means a bill has been introduced but not yet passed. Funeral homes in these states cannot offer NOR, cannot represent to families that they offer NOR, and cannot collect payment for NOR services. What they can do — and should be doing — is prepare: staff education, facility assessment, regulatory research, and provider relationship-building. There is no legal barrier to any of those activities.
Understanding your state’s category is the first step to knowing what your preparation timeline actually looks like.
NOR Legislation Tracker: Current Bill Status by State (Updated October 2026)
The table below covers all states with active or recently active NOR legislation. The Oklahoma and Illinois rows were re-verified against official legislature records in October 2026; the other rows reflect status as of April 2026. Verify current status at your state’s official legislature website — bill activity changes quickly.
| State | Bill Number(s) | Current Status | 2026 Outlook | 2027 Outlook | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | HB 3660 | Passed House 59–37 (March 24, 2026) and Senate 28–18 (May 5, 2026); House accepted Senate amendments 58–35 (May 6, 2026); vetoed by the Governor May 12, 2026; no override recorded | NONE (vetoed) | New bill required; next regular session convenes February 2027 | — |
| Illinois | HB 5425 (live vehicle); SB 2383 | HB 5425 cleared House Energy & Environment Committee 18–9 (March 24, 2026) and passed the House 64–36 (April 17, 2026); in Senate Assignments since April 21, 2026, no Senate vote; dies if the Senate does not pass it before the 104th General Assembly ends in January 2027. SB 2383: no action since April 11, 2025 | LOW (fall veto session only) | HIGH | Illinois Guide |
| Connecticut | HB 5354 (2024); 2026 bill TBD | HB 5354 passed committee (March 2024) but no floor vote; 2025 bill heard, not advanced; no 2026 bill identified as of April 2026 for the session that ended May 6 | LOW | MODERATE-HIGH | Connecticut Guide |
| Massachusetts | S.1611 / H.2444 | DPH study order issued after September 2025 hearing; active through end of 2026 | VERY LOW | MODERATE | Massachusetts Guide |
| Utah | SB 0049 | Passed committee and 16–10 second-reading floor vote; stalled on scheduling; session adjourned March 6, 2026 | N/A (session closed) | MODERATE | Utah Guide |
| Hawaii | HB 747 | Missed March 12, 2026 crossover deadline; 2026 passage foreclosed | VERY LOW | LOW-MODERATE | Hawaii Guide |
| Texas | HB 2200 (89th session) | Failed House floor vote May 12, 2025 (43–87); biennial legislature — no 2026 regular session | N/A (no session) | LOW-MODERATE | Texas Guide |
| Rhode Island | H7070 | Introduced January 2026; House Corporations Committee held for further study | LOW | LOW-MODERATE | — |
| Ohio | HB 591 | Introduced November 2025; in House General Government Committee | VERY LOW | LOW | — |
| Indiana | HB 1609 | Introduced January 2025; referred to committee; no significant advancement | VERY LOW | LOW | — |
Likelihood ratings reflect observable legislative trajectory, not guarantees.
State-by-State Guide: The Most-Watched Pending NOR States
Oklahoma: Passed Both Chambers, Then Vetoed
Oklahoma HB 3660 got further in 2026 than any other pending-state NOR bill. It passed the House 59–37 on March 24, 2026, cleared the Senate Business and Insurance Committee on April 23, and passed the full Senate 28–18 on May 5. The House accepted the Senate’s amendments 58–35 on May 6 and sent the bill to the Governor, who vetoed it on May 12, 2026. No override was recorded. As of October 2026, NOR is not legal in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is not a state typically associated with progressive end-of-life policy, so majorities in both chambers of a conservative legislature are still a significant signal: NOR has moved beyond blue-state coastal politics. As enrolled, the bill would have made the Oklahoma Funeral Board the licensing authority, set a $750 annual facility license or renewal fee, required each NOR facility to be licensed in conjunction with and operated by a funeral or commercial embalming establishment, and made NOR outside a licensed facility a Class D1 felony. Operators in neighboring states such as Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas still have reason to watch Oklahoma as a regional precedent, with the veto as a reminder that the governor’s office is its own hurdle.
The practical implication for Oklahoma funeral home operators: the 2026 bill is dead, and supporters would need to start over with a new bill. Oklahoma’s next regular session convenes in February 2027. The gap between signing and first case is 12 to 36 months, so preparation you begin now positions you for that session rather than the one after.
Illinois: The Most Advanced Live Bill
Two NOR bills were filed in the 104th General Assembly: Senate Bill 2383 (Sen. Mike Simmons), which has had no action since April 11, 2025, and House Bill 5425 (Rep. Mary Beth Canty), the live vehicle. HB 5425 cleared the House Energy and Environment Committee 18–9 on March 24, 2026. Before the floor vote, the House adopted a floor amendment that, among other changes, sets a minimum reduction-chamber temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit for 72 consecutive hours and removes the bill’s limitation-of-liability provisions. The full House then passed HB 5425 64–36 on April 17, 2026. As passed by the House, the bill makes the Illinois Comptroller the licensing authority for NOR facilities.
The challenge is the Senate. HB 5425 arrived there on April 21, 2026 and was referred to the Assignments Committee, with Sen. Celina Villanueva as its Senate sponsor. As of October 2026, the Senate has not voted on it. The 104th General Assembly ends in January 2027; if the Senate does not pass HB 5425 by then, the bill dies and must be reintroduced in the 105th General Assembly. The fall veto session is the main remaining window in 2026. If HB 5425 becomes law, Illinois, the sixth-largest state by population, would become the 15th legal NOR state. For operators in Illinois’s major markets — Chicago, Springfield, Rockford — the preparation window is shorter than it looks.
Read the complete Illinois NOR legislation guide
Texas: Rebuilding Toward 2027
Texas House Bill 2200 reached the full House floor in May 2025 — a genuine achievement in Texas’s competitive legislative environment — before failing 43 Yeas, 87 Nays (Record Vote #2201). The 89th Legislature has adjourned. Texas operates on a biennial calendar: no regular session in 2026, with the 90th Legislature convening January 12, 2027, and bill filing opening November 9, 2026.
The 43-vote coalition from 2025 is a real foundation, not a consolation. Oklahoma’s 2026 session challenges the argument that no conservative Southern or Plains state can pass NOR, a talking point used against HB 2200 in 2025: Oklahoma’s legislature passed HB 3660 through both chambers (House 59–37, Senate 28–18) before the Governor vetoed it on May 12, 2026. The vote counts show the legislative calculus on NOR has shifted in the region; the veto shows the executive branch is a separate hurdle. For Texas funeral home operators, the off-year is the best time to prepare, because the window between the 2027 session opening and a possible bill signing could be compressed.
Read the complete Texas NOR legislation guide
Massachusetts: DPH Review Underway
Bills H.2444 and S.1611 (“An Act Expanding After-Death Care Options”) are active in the 194th General Court through the end of 2026. After a September 29, 2025 public hearing, the Joint Committee on Public Health issued a formal study order directing a Department of Public Health (DPH) panel to analyze NOR and aquamation before any floor vote. A floor vote before the end of 2026 is unlikely.
A Massachusetts study order is not always a death knell — the DPH involvement signals legislators are taking NOR seriously enough to seek expert regulatory analysis. Vermont and New York, both legal NOR states, border Massachusetts. Massachusetts families who want NOR today are already using out-of-state providers. When the law changes, local operators who are prepared will capture that demand immediately.
Read the complete Massachusetts NOR legislation guide
Utah: Three Sessions of Progress, Still Waiting
Sen. Jen Plumb introduced NOR legislation in 2024 (held in committee), 2025 (held in committee with an amendment), and 2026 (SB 0049 — passed committee January 26 and a 16-10 second-reading floor vote February 9). The 2026 General Session adjourned March 6 without a final vote; SB 0049 stalled on the Rules Committee’s 3rd Reading Calendar.
Each session has shown more advancement than the last. Utah’s 45-day session creates real scheduling constraints, and the state’s significant LDS population — which has historically preferred earth burial — adds cultural complexity, though no formal institutional opposition from the LDS Church has been recorded. The 2027 General Session (annual legislature, convening January 2027) represents the next and likely strongest opportunity. Nevada and Colorado, both legal NOR states, share Utah’s borders, and Colorado has long-established licensed NOR providers.
Read the complete Utah NOR legislation guide
Hawaii: Missed the 2026 Window, Planning for 2027
House Bill 747, sponsored by Rep. Luke Evslin (D-Kauai), was carried over from the 2025 session on December 8, 2025. It did not advance before Hawaii’s March 12, 2026 crossover deadline, making 2026 passage effectively foreclosed. A 2027 reintroduction is the next realistic window.
Hawaii’s market context is notable: the state’s cremation rate is approximately 77%, well above the 63.4% national average (NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report), meaning the cultural shift from traditional burial has already happened. Demand for NOR exists — Hawaii families are already arranging out-of-state NOR through mainland providers. Hawaii’s unique challenge is logistics: all NOR equipment must arrive by ocean freight to Honolulu, with an additional inter-island barge step for operators on Maui, the Big Island, or Kauai. Operators cannot wait until the governor signs to think about equipment timelines.
Read the complete Hawaii NOR legislation guide
Connecticut: Committee-Proven, Floor Vote Still Elusive
Connecticut has advanced NOR legislation through committee in multiple consecutive sessions. The high-water mark was HB 5354 (“An Act Concerning Terramation”) in 2024, which passed the Joint Environment Committee on March 15, 2024 — with support from environmental advocates and conditional support from the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) — but never reached a floor vote. A 2025 committee bill was heard without advancement. As of April 2026, no Connecticut NOR bill had been identified for the 2026 session, which ended May 6.
Connecticut’s surrounding landscape creates mounting pressure: Vermont, Maine, and New York are legal NOR states (New York’s rules took effect in August 2024), and Massachusetts is moving through a formal DPH review. The CFDA actively supports legalization and has pushed for regulatory language allowing licensed funeral homes to serve as NOR operators. Connecticut’s pattern — committee passage, no floor vote — tends to resolve when political will accumulates across enough sessions. The 2027 session is the most realistic near-term window.
Read the complete Connecticut NOR legislation guide
States to Watch: Beyond the Top Six
Three additional states have introduced NOR bills in 2025 or 2026.
Ohio (HB 591): Introduced November 18, 2025; referred to the House General Government Committee. Ohio operates on a two-year cycle (136th General Assembly), so the bill remains active, but no committee hearing has been reported. Ohio funeral home operators should monitor legislature.ohio.gov.
Rhode Island (H7070): Introduced January 2026; held for further study by the House Corporations Committee. Vermont and Massachusetts — both further along the NOR legislative path — neighbor Rhode Island, creating regional context. As of April 2026, passage in 2026 looked unlikely; 2027 is the realistic watch window.
Indiana (HB 1609): Introduced January 2025; referred to the Committee on Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development, with no reported advancement. Indiana borders Illinois, whose HB 5425 is the most advanced live NOR bill among the pending states, which creates some geographic relevance to watch.
Several states have had NOR bills fail in recent cycles — New Hampshire most notably. For the most comprehensive and current national overview, your state funeral directors association and industry tracking resources are useful supplementary sources.
How Long Does It Actually Take? The Road From Bill Introduction to Open Facility
This is the question operators in pending states ask most often. The honest answer: longer than most people expect, and it varies considerably by state.
The journey from bill introduction to operational NOR facility involves three phases.
The total picture: From a bill signing to a funeral home’s first NOR case, budget 12 to 36 months. This is not an argument against preparing now — it is an argument for preparing now, so that when your state’s regulations publish, you are not starting from zero.
Oklahoma adds a caution to that timeline. HB 3660 passed both chambers in 2026 but was vetoed on May 12, 2026, so no Oklahoma rulemaking clock has started; a new bill would have to pass in a future session first. Had it become law, the Oklahoma Funeral Board would have begun rulemaking. Operators in any pending state are wise to start their facility assessments and provider conversations before a signing, not after.
What Should Funeral Home Operators in Pending States Do Before Legalization?
The funeral homes that lead their markets when NOR legalizes are the ones that started preparing before the law changed — not the ones that scrambled after the signing ceremony. Here is what preparation looks like during the pre-legalization window.
1. Monitor your state’s bill in real time. Your state legislature’s official website is the authoritative source. Illinois: ilga.gov. Oklahoma: oklegislature.gov. Texas: capitol.texas.gov. Massachusetts: malegislature.gov. Utah: le.utah.gov. Hawaii: capitol.hawaii.gov. Connecticut: cga.ct.gov. Set up a bill alert so you hear about committee hearings and votes as they happen.
2. Engage your state funeral directors association. Associations are in the room where NOR regulatory language is shaped. The CFDA, for example, has actively pushed for provisions allowing licensed funeral homes to serve as NOR facilities — the kind of input that directly affects your licensing path. Being involved in that conversation positions your funeral home as a constructive industry voice.
3. Begin staff education now. There is no legal barrier to training your staff on NOR before your state legalizes it. Families are already asking questions. A team that can explain what NOR is, why it is not yet available in your state, and what families can do in the meantime builds trust and positions your funeral home as the informed resource in your market. See our training resources for available staff education pathways.
4. Conduct a preliminary facility assessment. NOR requires dedicated space, specific utility capacity, and structural considerations. Understanding your facility’s compatibility is a planning exercise that costs nothing legally and saves months when a launch timeline becomes real. You are not committing capital — you are gathering the information you need to move fast.
5. Survey your community. Real demand data from your own client base is more valuable than national averages. A simple inquiry during pre-arrangement conferences — “If our state offered natural organic reduction as an alternative to cremation or burial, would you want to know more?” — gives you actionable signal and informs your business case.
6. Build your preparation plan. Our complete NOR preparation checklist for funeral homes in pending states walks through every step with timelines and resource recommendations. It is the most detailed operator preparation guide available for the pre-legalization window.
If you are ready to start building your NOR readiness plan, connect with TerraCare Partners. We work with funeral home operators in pending states to build the operational foundation now — so you can launch with confidence the moment the law allows.
Frequently Asked Questions: NOR Legislation in Pending States
Q: Which states are about to legalize terramation in 2026?
As of October 2026, no pending state has legalized NOR this year, and Illinois is the pending state closest to legalization. House Bill 5425 passed the House 64–36 on April 17, 2026 and has been in the Senate Assignments Committee since April 21; if the Senate does not pass it before the 104th General Assembly ends in January 2027, it dies and must be reintroduced. Oklahoma’s HB 3660 passed both chambers but was vetoed on May 12, 2026, so a new Oklahoma bill would be needed. As of April 2026, no Connecticut NOR bill had been identified for the 2026 session, which ended May 6. Utah and Hawaii both missed their 2026 session windows and are looking at 2027. Texas’s biennial legislature does not reconvene until January 2027. No pending-state legalization is guaranteed, but Illinois has the most credible near-term path.
Q: How many states have pending NOR legislation right now?
As of October 2026, at least ten states have active or recently active NOR legislation that has not been enacted: Oklahoma (HB 3660 passed both chambers but was vetoed by the Governor on May 12, 2026), Illinois (HB 5425 passed the House 64–36 on April 17, 2026 and awaits a Senate vote), Texas, Massachusetts, Utah, Hawaii, Connecticut, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Indiana. The list changes each session as new bills are introduced and existing ones advance or stall.
Q: What is the difference between a state where NOR is “legal” and one where families can actually access it?
A state where NOR is “legal” has an enacted law. That does not mean families can access NOR from a licensed in-state provider yet: the law has to be in effect, the regulator has to have rules in place, and a facility has to be licensed and operating. As of October 2026, NOR is legal in 14 states and in effect in 13; California’s AB 351 does not take effect until January 1, 2027. Legal status is not the same as availability: in several of the 14 legal states, no licensed in-state facility is operating yet, so check the state guide for your state. Funeral home operators should not assume a law signing opens the door immediately.
Q: How long does it take after a state legalizes NOR before a funeral home can offer it?
Based on how other states have implemented NOR, the realistic window from bill signing to a funeral home’s first case is 12 to 36 months. This encompasses rulemaking (drafting, publishing, and finalizing regulations), licensing (facility application and inspection), and build-out (equipment installation and staff training). Washington took approximately 11 months from signing to operational. Colorado took 12 to 18 months. Arizona and Minnesota both legalized NOR in 2024, but their state regulators did not adopt NOR rules until 2026. California signed its law in 2022, and it does not take effect until January 1, 2027.
Q: Is Oklahoma now a legal NOR state?
No. HB 3660 passed the Oklahoma House 59–37 on March 24, 2026 and the Senate 28–18 on May 5, 2026, and the House accepted the Senate amendments 58–35 on May 6. The Governor vetoed the bill on May 12, 2026, and no override was recorded, so NOR is not legal in Oklahoma. As enrolled, the bill would have made the Oklahoma Funeral Board the licensing authority, set a $750 facility license or renewal fee, and made NOR outside a licensed facility a felony. Supporters would need to start over with a new bill; Oklahoma’s next regular session convenes in February 2027. The votes in both chambers still show that NOR can win majorities in a state with a conservative legislative majority and a traditional burial culture, and operators in neighboring states are watching closely.
Q: Can funeral homes in pending states legally prepare for NOR before the bill passes?
Yes. There are no legal barriers in any pending state to staff education and training on the NOR process, preliminary facility assessments, community awareness conversations during pre-arrangement conferences, regulatory framework research, or building relationships with NOR equipment providers and implementation partners. What operators cannot do is offer NOR services, collect payment for NOR, or represent to families that they offer it. The pre-legalization window is the time to complete the preparation that compresses the gap between a bill signing and your first case. See our NOR preparation checklist.
Q: Which pending state is most likely to legalize NOR next?
Based on observable legislative trajectory as of October 2026: Illinois has the most advanced live bill and the most credible near-term path, with HB 5425 passed by the House and awaiting a Senate vote before the 104th General Assembly ends in January 2027. Oklahoma’s HB 3660 got further but was vetoed, so Oklahoma starts over in 2027. Connecticut has consistently advanced NOR through committee across multiple sessions and has strong industry support from the CFDA. Massachusetts is moving through a formal DPH review process. Utah has shown steady session-over-session advancement over three consecutive years. These four states have the strongest trajectories — but legislative timing is inherently uncertain.
Q: What states have had NOR bills fail, and why?
Oklahoma’s HB 3660 is the most recent: it passed both chambers in 2026 but was vetoed by the Governor on May 12, 2026, and no override was recorded. Texas’s HB 2200 failed a House floor vote on May 12, 2025 (43 Yeas, 87 Nays) — the most visible recent floor defeat, driven by broadly conservative opposition and structural concerns about folding NOR into the cremation definition rather than creating a standalone disposition category. Utah’s SB 0049 did not fail a floor vote — it stalled on scheduling during a compressed 45-day session. New Hampshire has had NOR bills fail to advance from committee in multiple sessions. Rhode Island’s 2026 bill was held for further study.
Q: What should I do if my state is not on the pending list but I want to offer NOR?
Monitor your state legislature for new bill filings each session. Engage your state funeral directors association — in many states where NOR legislation has not been introduced, association advocacy is the catalyst. In the meantime, all preparation activities are legal: facility assessment, staff education, regulatory research, and provider relationship-building. See our ROI resources for the business case, and contact TerraCare Partners to discuss your state specifically.
Q: Where can I find the guide to states where NOR is already legal?
Our complete state-by-state NOR guide covers all 14 legal states: when each law took effect, where rules are in place, and what the licensing framework looks like. It is the companion hub to this tracker.
Q: Is “natural organic reduction” the same as terramation and natural organic reduction?
Yes. Natural organic reduction (NOR) is the regulatory and legislative term used in state bills and statutes. “Terramation” is a commercial term for the same process. “Natural organic reduction” and “body composting” are common-use terms. All three describe the same process: human remains placed in a vessel with organic materials — wood chips, straw, alfalfa — where naturally occurring microbes convert the body into nutrient-rich soil over a period of several weeks to a few months, depending on the system. The resulting soil is returned to the family.
Ready to Build Your Preparation Plan?
The funeral homes that lead their markets when NOR legalizes are not the ones that waited for the governor’s signature. Illinois’s HB 5425 has passed the House and is waiting on the Senate, with the 104th General Assembly ending in January 2027. Oklahoma’s 2026 bill cleared both chambers before a veto, and any new bill would start in the session that convenes in February 2027. Utah’s next session convenes in January 2027, and Texas bill filing for the 2027 session opens in November 2026. The time to prepare is now — not after the signing ceremony.
Contact TerraCare Partners to start your NOR readiness plan. We work with funeral home operators in pending states to build the foundation they need to move quickly when their state legalizes. For the most comprehensive step-by-step preparation guidance, work through our NOR preparation checklist for funeral homes in pending states.
Sources
- Oklahoma HB 3660 — Passed Oklahoma House 59–37, March 24, 2026; passed Senate 28–18, May 5, 2026; House adopted Senate amendments 58–35, May 6, 2026; vetoed by the Governor, May 12, 2026 — https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB3660&Session=2600 (enrolled text: https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20ENR/hB/HB3660%20ENR.PDF)
- Illinois HB 5425 — Cleared House Energy & Environment Committee 18–9, March 24, 2026; passed House 64–36, April 17, 2026; referred to Senate Assignments, April 21, 2026 — https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=5425&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104
- Illinois SB 2383 — Re-referred to Senate Assignments, April 11, 2025; no action since — https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=2383&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104
- NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report — https://nfda.org/news/statistics
TerraCare Partners | Last Updated: October 16, 2026