OklahomaOklahoma bill would require licenses for natural organic reduction facilities
The vetoed bill would have required Oklahoma funeral businesses offering natural organic reduction to get annual licenses and follow facility safety rules.
What it does
Funeral businesses offering natural organic reduction would need an annual license and must follow safety and tracking rules. They must keep records for five years after releasing remains.
People who knowingly receive an unlawfully removed body, sell reduced remains for commercial use, or use reduction soil to grow food could face felony penalties.
Argument forFamilies could have more confidence in safe handling because facilities must track remains and test the material before releasing it.
Argument againstFuneral businesses might face extra licensing, reporting, and recordkeeping work, which could make it harder to offer natural organic reduction.
More detail
Funeral businesses offering natural organic reduction would need an annual facility license and must follow operating and safety rules. These rules cover natural organic reduction facilities in Oklahoma. A facility could not have a separate license; it must operate with a funeral or commercial embalming business and have a licensed funeral director in charge. Facilities must obtain required permits, follow health and environmental rules, and allow inspections. The bill set November 1, 2026, as its effective date.
The text provides felony penalties for certain actions involving human bodies and natural organic reduction remains or soil. The provisions cover people who knowingly receive a body removed contrary to law, sell reduced remains for commercial use, or use reduction soil to grow food for people or livestock. The sale provision applies to sales of reduced remains for commercial use, except sales by a licensed funeral director. Using reduction soil to grow food for people or livestock is covered. The text provides a fine of up to $500, imprisonment, or both; imprisonment follows the referenced Class D1 rules. The bill set November 1, 2026, as its effective date.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Vetoed 05/12/2026Latest
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 6Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 6Referred for enrollment
- May 6Fourth Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 58 Nays: 35Major
- May 6SA's read, adoptedMajor
- May 6SA's received
- May 6Engrossed to HouseMajor
- May 5Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- May 5Measure passed: Ayes: 28 Nays: 18Major
- May 5General Order, Amended
- Apr 28Placed on General Order
- Apr 23Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Business and Insurance committee; CR filedMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass Amended Cs. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Business and InsuranceMinor
- Mar 25First ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Mar 24Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 59 Nays: 37Passed House
- Mar 24Coauthored by Representative(s) Alonso-Sandoval
- Mar 24General Order
- Feb 25Authored by Senator Murdock (principal Senate author)
- Feb 25CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Commerce and Economic Development Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Feb 24
- Vote recorded Commerce And Economic Development Oversight Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Policy recommendation to the Commerce and Economic Development Oversight committee; Do Pass BusinessMinor
- Vote recorded Business Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Referred to BusinessMinor
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Commerce and Economic Development OversightMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Dempsey
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety