NOR Legislation Pending States 2026: Which States Are About to Legalize Terramation? (colloquially referred to as human composting)
Last Updated: April 2026 | This tracker is updated monthly. Bookmark this page and check back for the latest bill status in your state.
As of April 2026, natural organic reduction (NOR) — the process formally known as terramation or natural organic reduction — is now legal in 14 U.S. states. At least ten additional states have active NOR legislation pending. Oklahoma is the furthest along: HB 3660 passed the House 59–37 on March 24, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Business and Insurance Committee on April 1, 2026 — the most advanced pending NOR bill in the country. Illinois is next: House Bill 5507 cleared the House Energy and Environment Committee with an 18-9 vote in March 2026, the furthest any Illinois NOR bill has gone in the state’s history. 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 is updated monthly with 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 April 2026, Oklahoma and Illinois have the most advanced pending NOR legislation. Oklahoma HB 3660 passed the full House 59–37 on March 24, 2026 and is now in the Senate Business and Insurance Committee — if the Senate acts before session closes, Oklahoma could become the 15th legal NOR state in 2026. Illinois HB 5507 cleared a House committee 18–9 in March 2026 with the session running through May 31. Utah and Hawaii have 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 in 2026 is guaranteed.
- As of April 2026, at least 10 states have active or recently active NOR legislation that has not been enacted — with Oklahoma (House-passed 59–37) and Illinois (committee-cleared 18–9) representing the most advanced pending bills.
- Three states are legal but not yet operational as of April 2026: California (effective January 1, 2027), New York (regulations still pending since 2022), and New Jersey (estimated operational July 2026) — meaning 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 within weeks of bill signing rather than months.
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 in 2026 — and the pace is accelerating. 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 (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 House passage is the most instructive recent signal. Oklahoma is not a state typically associated with progressive end-of-life legislation, yet HB 3660 cleared the full House 59–37 on March 24, 2026 — a margin that demonstrates NOR has become a consumer rights and professional services issue, not an ideological one. If the Oklahoma Senate advances the bill before the session closes, Oklahoma would become the 15th legal NOR state. Operators in pending states watching Oklahoma’s trajectory are wise to start building their preparation now.
For all 14 legal states — which are fully operational and which are still working through regulatory implementation — see our complete state-by-state NOR guide.
What “Pending,” “Legal but Not Operational,” and “Fully Operational” Actually Mean for Funeral Homes
These three terms are frequently conflated, but the distinctions have direct implications for operator timelines.
Fully operational means the law is in effect, regulations are finalized, facility licenses have been issued, and families can access NOR from a licensed provider in-state today. Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, Maine, and Georgia are in this category, in various stages.
Legal but not yet operational means a bill has been signed, but the regulatory framework needed to license and inspect NOR facilities has not been finalized. No licensed providers exist yet. Three states occupy this category as of April 2026: California (AB-351, effective January 1, 2027), New York (A382/S5535, regulations still pending), and New Jersey (A4085/S3007, estimated operational around July 2026). These states are legal on paper — the facility door is not open.
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 (April 2026)
The table below covers all states with active or recently active NOR legislation. 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); referred to Senate Business and Insurance Committee (April 1, 2026) | MODERATE-HIGH | — | — |
| Illinois | HB 5507 (live vehicle); SB 2383 | HB 5507 cleared House Energy & Environment Committee 18–9 (March 2026); amendment pending before floor vote; session ends May 31 | MODERATE | 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; 2026 session ends 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; passage in current session 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: The Most Advanced Pending Bill in the Country
Oklahoma HB 3660 passed the House 59–37 on March 24, 2026 — a stronger bipartisan margin than most NOR bills achieve anywhere in the country. The bill was referred to the Senate Business and Insurance Committee on April 1, 2026. As of April 2026, it has not yet been voted on by the Senate. The Oklahoma Legislature’s regular session typically runs through the end of May, meaning there is still a realistic window for Senate advancement and governor action in 2026.
Oklahoma is not a state typically associated with progressive end-of-life policy. A 59–37 House passage in a conservative legislature is a significant signal: NOR has moved beyond blue-state coastal politics. If signed into law, the Oklahoma Funeral Board would serve as the licensing authority under the bill’s current language, with a $750 license or renewal fee and felony penalties for unlicensed operation. Operators in neighboring states — Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas — are watching Oklahoma closely as a regional precedent-setter.
The practical implication for Oklahoma funeral home operators: do not wait for the governor’s signature to begin your preparation plan. The gap between signing and first case is 12 to 36 months. Beginning now means being operational before competitors who wait.
Illinois: The Closest Among Long-Running Pending Bills
Two bills are active in the 104th General Assembly: Senate Bill 2383 (Sen. Mike Simmons) and House Bill 5507 (Rep. Mary Beth Canty), which is the live vehicle. In late March 2026, HB 5507 cleared the House Energy and Environment Committee 18-9 — the most progress any Illinois NOR bill has ever achieved. Rep. Canty has committed to a substantive amendment addressing regulatory oversight and liability before a full House floor vote. The session adjourns May 31, 2026.
The challenge is the Senate. The House has historically been willing to pass NOR legislation; the Senate has not. If HB 5507 clears the full House and Senate leadership engages a companion, Illinois could sign NOR into law before summer. More likely, this advances in a fall veto session or 2027. 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 59–37 House passage in March 2026 challenges the argument that no conservative Southern or Plains state can pass NOR — a talking point that was used against HB 2200 in 2025. If Oklahoma’s Senate passage and governor signature follow, it will be the clearest regional signal yet that the political calculus on NOR has shifted. 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 Maine, both fully operational, sit on Massachusetts’s borders. 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 fully operational for NOR, share Utah’s borders.
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. No confirmed 2026 NOR bill has been identified for the current session, which closes May 6, 2026.
Connecticut’s surrounding landscape creates mounting pressure: Vermont and Maine are fully operational, New York is legal (regulations pending), 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. Passage in 2026 is 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, the state with the most advanced pending NOR bill, 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 — where HB 3660 passed the House 59–37 in March 2026 and is now in Senate committee — is the current real-world case study to watch. If signed into law, the Oklahoma Funeral Board would begin rulemaking. Operators watching Oklahoma’s progress 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. 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 April 2026, Illinois is the pending state closest to near-term legalization. House Bill 5507 cleared a House committee 18-9 in March 2026, and the current session runs through May 31. Connecticut’s 2026 session closes May 6 with no confirmed NOR bill yet identified. Utah and Hawaii have 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 in 2026 is guaranteed, but Illinois has the most credible near-term path.
Q: How many states have pending NOR legislation right now?
As of April 2026, at least ten states have active or recently active NOR legislation that has not been enacted: Oklahoma (HB 3660 passed the full House 59–37 on March 24, 2026; in Senate Business and Insurance Committee as of April 1, 2026), Illinois, 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 NOR is “operational”?
A state where NOR is “legal” has a signed bill but may not have finalized the regulations needed to license and inspect NOR facilities — meaning families cannot necessarily access NOR from a local licensed provider yet. A state where NOR is “operational” has completed rulemaking, issued facility licenses, and families can book the service today. California, New York, and New Jersey are all legal but not yet operational as of April 2026. 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 moved faster — roughly 6 to 12 months. California and New York signed in 2022 and are still in the pre-operational phase as of April 2026.
Q: Is Oklahoma now a legal NOR state?
Not yet, but it is the closest of any pending state. HB 3660 passed the Oklahoma House 59–37 on March 24, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Business and Insurance Committee on April 1, 2026. As of April 2026, the bill has not been signed into law. If the Senate advances and the governor signs HB 3660, the Oklahoma Funeral Board would serve as the licensing authority, with a $750 license or renewal fee and felony penalties for unlicensed operation. The 59–37 House margin demonstrates that NOR has crossed political and regional lines in a state with a conservative legislative majority and traditional burial culture. 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 April 2026: Illinois has the most advanced pending bill and the most credible near-term path. 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?
Texas’s HB 2200 failed a House floor vote on May 12, 2025 (43 Yeas, 87 Nays) — the most visible recent failure, 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 and operational?
Our complete state-by-state NOR guide covers all 14 legal states — which are fully operational, which are legal but pre-operational, and what the licensing framework looks like in operational states. 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. Oklahoma’s HB 3660 is in Senate committee now. Illinois’s May 31 session deadline is real. Connecticut closes May 6. Texas’s 2027 session begins with bill filing 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; Referred to Senate Business and Insurance Committee, April 1, 2026 — https://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB3660&Session=2600
- Illinois HB 5507 — Cleared House Energy & Environment Committee 18–9, March 2026 — https://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5507&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=&SessionID=114&GA=104
- NFDA 2025 Cremation & Burial Report — https://nfda.org/news/statistics
TerraCare Partners | Last Updated: April 15, 2026