Louis Blessing

Ohio lawmakers are considering two bills, House Bill 591 and Senate Bill 323, that would legalize natural organic reduction, commonly called human composting, as an alternative to burial and cremation. The process converts human remains into soil through controlled decomposition. Under the House bill, the practice would generally be regulated like cremation and could take place anywhere cremation is already allowed, including at existing funeral homes, crematories or cemetery buildings that meet licensing requirements. The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors would oversee operator training, permits and facility licensing, with fees intended to offset regulatory costs.

Unlike Colorado and Maryland, Ohio's proposals do not explicitly bar selling the resulting soil or using it to grow food, though other property and state laws could still restrict such uses. The House and Senate versions differ slightly in how they amend the state's burial-permit statute. Both bills have had committee hearings but have not advanced further. Fourteen states have already authorized the practice, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.