House File 2432 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2432 BY CROKEN A BILL FOR An Act relating to the natural reduction of human remains, 1 making penalties applicable, and including effective date 2 provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5063YH (3) 91 ss/ko

H.F. 2432 Section 1. Section 156.1, subsection 7, Code 2026, is 1 amended by adding the following new paragraph: 2 NEW PARAGRAPH . e. Providing natural reduction services. 3 Sec. 2. Section 156.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the 4 following new subsections: 5 NEW SUBSECTION . 7A. “Natural reduction” means the 6 contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. 7 NEW SUBSECTION . 7B. “Natural reduction establishment” means 8 a secure structure, room, or other space within a funeral 9 establishment or on the property of a funeral establishment 10 which provides any service related to natural reduction. 11 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 156.6 Natural reduction services. 12 1. The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 13 17A for the provision of natural reduction services by 14 funeral directors and the licensure of natural reduction 15 establishments. The rules shall include a minimum setback 16 distance of five hundred feet between a natural reduction 17 establishment and any drinking water source. 18 2. The board shall inform each funeral director who operates 19 a natural reduction establishment of cemeteries that are able 20 to receive naturally reduced human remains pursuant to section 21 523I.18. 22 Sec. 4. Section 156.14, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 23 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 24 A person shall not establish, conduct, or maintain a 25 funeral establishment , a natural reduction establishment, or a 26 cremation establishment in this state without a license. The 27 license shall be identified as an establishment license. 28 Sec. 5. Section 156.14, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended 29 to read as follows: 30 2. The board shall specify by rule the licensing procedures 31 to be followed, including specifications of forms for use in 32 applying for an establishment license and fees for filing 33 an application. The board shall specify by rule minimum 34 standards for professional responsibility in the conduct of a 35 -1- LSB 5063YH (3) 91 ss/ko 1/ 4

H.F. 2432 funeral establishment , a natural reduction establishment, or a 1 cremation establishment. 2 Sec. 6. Section 156.14, subsection 3, unnumbered paragraph 3 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows: 4 To qualify for a funeral establishment , a natural reduction 5 establishment, or a cremation establishment license, the 6 applicant shall submit to the board a license fee as determined 7 by the board and a completed application on a form prescribed 8 by the board that shall include the following information and 9 be given under oath: 10 Sec. 7. Section 156.15, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended 11 to read as follows: 12 1. A funeral establishment , a natural reduction 13 establishment, or cremation establishment shall not be operated 14 until a license or renewal certificate has been issued to the 15 establishment by the board. 16 Sec. 8. NEW SECTION . 523I.318 Interment of naturally 17 reduced remains. 18 1. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 19 17A for the interment of naturally reduced remains at a 20 cemetery. A cemetery that does not comply with rules adopted 21 pursuant to this subsection shall not inter naturally reduced 22 remains. 23 2. The commissioner shall inform the board of mortuary 24 science of each cemetery that is in compliance with rules of 25 the commissioner regarding the interment of naturally reduced 26 remains and has expressed interest in receiving naturally 27 reduced remains. 28 3. For the purposes of this section, “naturally reduced 29 remains” means human remains that have undergone natural 30 reduction as defined in section 156.1. 31 Sec. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect July 1, 2027, 32 except that the board of mortuary science and commissioner of 33 insurance may adopt rules for implementation of this Act prior 34 to that date. 35 -2- LSB 5063YH (3) 91 ss/ko 2/ 4

H.F. 2432 EXPLANATION 1 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 3 This bill relates to the practice of natural reduction by 4 funeral directors. The bill defines “natural reduction” as the 5 contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. 6 The bill prohibits a person other than a funeral director 7 from providing natural reduction services and requires that 8 natural reduction services be provided in a natural reduction 9 establishment, as defined in the bill. The bill requires the 10 board of mortuary science to adopt rules for the provision 11 of natural reduction services and the licensure of natural 12 reduction establishments, which shall include a minimum setback 13 distance of 500 feet from any drinking water source. To 14 qualify for a natural reduction establishment license, the bill 15 requires a person to submit an application and license fee as 16 determined by the board. 17 The bill requires the commissioner of insurance 18 (commissioner) to adopt rules for the interment of naturally 19 reduced human remains at a cemetery and prohibits a cemetery 20 from interring naturally reduced human remains unless it 21 complies with the rules of the commissioner. The bill directs 22 the commissioner to inform the board of mortuary science of all 23 cemeteries that can receive naturally reduced human remains. 24 By operation of law, a person who violates a provision 25 of the bill may be subject to a civil penalty as determined 26 by the board and a person who makes a false statement in an 27 application for a natural reduction establishment license 28 is subject to all penalties prescribed for making a false 29 affidavit. A person who fails to comply with the rules of the 30 commissioner relating to the interment of naturally reduced 31 human remains commits an unfair practice and may be subject to 32 civil and criminal penalties. 33 The bill takes effect July 1, 2027, except that the board 34 of mortuary science and commissioner may adopt rules for 35 -3- LSB 5063YH (3) 91 ss/ko 3/ 4

H.F. 2432 implementation of the bill prior to that date. 1 -4- LSB 5063YH (3) 91 ss/ko 4/ 4