Natural organic reduction, or NOR (a.k.a. body composting), might become legal in Maryland! It could become the seventh state to legalize natural organic reduction – but we need your help right now. Here’s a video message about this from Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death®.
What is NOR/Body Composting?
Body composting vessel and compost from the Natural Funeral.
As you may know, natural organic reduction or NOR is the process for the final disposition of human remains which converts them to soil in a controlled vessel. Because it doesn’t directly consume fossil fuels, NOR is considered a “green” or eco-friendly funeral option that avoids carbon emissions – with some estimates that indicate it prevents a metric ton of CO2 in comparison to conventional burial or cremation methods. You can find out more about natural organic reduction from recent articles in the National Geographic, Popular Science, Yahoo News and even the New York Post.
On behalf of my friends with GreenLegacy.com in my hometown of Silver Spring, I hope you’ll let your voice be heard. The state legislature is currently considering HB 1060 – Cremation – Natural Organic Reduction – Regulation. If it passes, this bill will legalize NOR in Maryland and allow the state oversight agencies to regulate it. You can find a copy of the bill here. The Maryland House of Delegates has already approved the bill and now it is in the Senate Finance Committee’s court to decide.
I am urging all my friends in Maryland to let the Finance Committee know you care. Sign up to testify. If you can’t sign up to testify, then send an email. If you can’t send an email, then call. We need you to speak up for HB 1060 and let your elected officials hear from you. BUT ACT FAST – THE HEARING IS THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023 AT 1PM.
You can do both/either of the following options:
- Email your written testimony to the committee. A list of the emails for committee members is below.
- Submit your written testimony through the MyMGA portal. You must submit during the hours of 8:00AM – 3:00PM on the day before the hearing (Tuesday, March 28). Please create an account, click “Witness Signup”, navigate to HB1060, select “Favorable with Amendments”, select “Written” from the Testimony drop down menu, and attach your written testimony (must be a PDF). Then scroll back to the top of the page and click “Save”. Please don’t navigate away from the page until it has processed your submission. You can check that it has been processed successfully by clicking “Signed Up Items” (next to the “Save” button).
Please send a courtesy copy of your testimony/emails to Delegate Anne Kaiser, the bill’s sponsor, at Anne.Kaiser@house.state.md.us. You can also call Legislative Aide Caroline Davenport at 301-858-3036 if you have any trouble.
Stay tuned to agoodgoodbye.com for updates and more news. And thank you for getting involved.
Sen. Melony Griffith, Chair Prince George’s County
410-841-3127 melony.griffith@senate.state.md.us Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, Vice-Chair Baltimore County 410-841-3620 katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us Sen. Pamela Beidle Anne Arundel County
410-841-3593 pamela.beidle@senate.state.md.us Sen. Arthur Ellis Charles County
410-841-3616 arthur.ellis@senate.state.md.us Sen. Dawn Gile Anne Arundel County
410-841-3568 dawn.gile@senate.state.md.us Sen. Antonio Hayes Baltimore City
410-841-3656 antonio.hayes@senate.state.md.us Sen. Stephen S. Hershey Kent, Queen Anne’s, Cecil, Caroline
410-841-3762 steve.hershey@senate.state.md.us Sen. Benjamin F. Kramer Montgomery County
410-841-3151 Ben.Kramer@senate.state.md.us Sen. Clarence K. Lam Anne Arundel, Howard
410-841-3653 clarence.lam@senate.state.md.us Sen. Johnny Mautz Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico
410-841-3590 johnny.mautz@senate.state.md.us Sen. Justin Ready Frederick, Carroll
410-841-3683 justin.ready@senate.state.md.us Cut and Paste Committee-Wide Email melony.griffith@senate.state.md.us, katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us, pamela.beidle@senate.state.md.us, arthur.ellis@senate.state.md.us, dawn.gile@senate.state.md.us, antonio.hayes@senate.state.md.us, steve.hershey@senate.state.md.us, Ben.Kramer@senate.state.md.us, clarence.lam@senate.state.md.us, johnny.mautz@senate.state.md.us, justin.ready@senate.state.md.us