Purpose

This bill updates Minnesota’s rules for handling dead bodies and introduces natural organic reduction (NOR) as a recognized method of final disposition by July 1, 2025. It aims to clarify when embalming or refrigeration is required, set time limits for holding bodies, and outline how NOR must be started and managed in facilities that perform NOR.

Main Provisions

• Embalming or refrigeration requirements (Section 1, 149A.91 subd. 3)

  • A dead body must be embalmed or refrigerated (or packed in dry ice) in these situations:
  • If the body will be transported on public transportation.
  • If final disposition cannot be completed within 72 hours after death (or after release by an authority) or will be stored for future disposition (with some exceptions).
  • If the body will be publicly viewed.
  • If the commissioner of health orders embalming/refrigeration for public health or infectious disease control.
  • Public viewing is defined to cover most people except certain officials and their minor children.
  • Dry ice may be used only when the body is publicly viewed on private property.
  • Time limits: a body may not be refrigerated for more than six calendar days or packed in dry ice for more than four calendar days from the time of death or from release by the coroner/medical examiner (with certain exceptions).

• Final disposition and NOR timeline (Section 2, 149A.94 subd. 1)

  • By July 1, 2025, the default expectation for final disposition is decently buried, entombed, cremated through alkaline hydrolysis, or naturally reduced via NOR.
  • If final disposition cannot be accomplished or NOR will not be initiated by July 1, 2025, the body must be properly embalmed, refrigerated, or packed with dry ice.
  • Time limits for traditional handling (refrigeration and dry ice) remain: not more than six days in refrigeration and not more than four days with dry ice.

• NOR process requirements for bodies awaiting NOR (Section 3, 149A.955 subd. 14)

  • A dead body awaiting NOR must be placed in the NOR vessel to initiate the NOR process within 24 hours after the NOR facility accepts custody.
  • If the body is held longer than four days, the NOR facility must refrigerate it.
  • If the NOR process is not initiated within 30 days after custody is accepted, the facility must embalm the body (but embalming is not required if the NOR process is initiated within 30 days).
  • If NOR is initiated within 30 days, the facility is not required to embalm.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces natural organic reduction (NOR) as an approved final disposition option, effective July 1, 2025.
• Establishes explicit deadlines for starting NOR after custody is accepted (place in NOR vessel within 24 hours; begin NOR within 30 days) and conditions under which embalming becomes required if NOR has not started.
• Maintains and clarifies current limits on refrigeration and dry ice durations (six days for refrigeration; four days for dry ice) and ties these limits to the NOR framework.
• Revises when embalming or refrigeration is required, including new considerations related to public viewing, transportation, and public health orders.

Impact Notes

• Funeral professionals and NOR facilities will need to coordinate closely to meet the 24-hour placement in NOR vessel and 30-day initiation windows.
• Families may experience changes in how a body is prepared and stored, especially if NOR is chosen or required.
• The bill emphasizes a move toward environmentally friendlier disposition options while retaining clear safety and public health safeguards.

Relevant Terms

• natural organic reduction (NOR)
• final disposition
• embalming
• refrigeration
• dry ice
• six calendar days
• four calendar days
• publicly viewed
• commissioner of health
• infectious disease control
• coroner
• medical examiner
• NOR vessel
• custody (legal and physical)