Human mulching legislation passes in Georgia House, heads to governor's desk
An effort to expand how you lay your loved ones to rest in Georgia passed its second floor vote, putting it on its way to the governor's office for approval.
Senate Bill 241 would allow dead Georgians to be disposed of through 'organic human reduction.'
In short, a dead Georgian can have their remains composted or mulched, rather than being buried or cremated.
SB 241 changes regulations in the state of Georgia when it comes to how burials and funerary rites can be conducted, while setting safeguards to ensure respectful treatment of the dead.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The bill requires certain steps be taken to ensure proper identification and licensing of funeral homes and mortuaries to perform the mulching and composting process, in addition to maintaining records for unclaimed remains.
Establishments that seek to undertake this service would have to receive permits to dispose of human remains or fetuses through this method, including for burial at sea.
TRENDING STORIES:
UGA student's smiling mugshot breaks the internet
Man bitten by unruly passenger on Delta flight says he tried to help restrain him
Georgia Tech student realizes his classmate is the doctor who delivered him
The bill also states clearly that 'the disposition of organically reduced remains shall not constitute the offense of abandonment of a dead human body,' meaning it would not be considered illegal to leave the remains, cared for in this way, in nature.
Lawmakers also set the following definitions for what organic human reduction is in Georgia:
'Organic human reduction' means the contained, accelerated conversion of dead human bodies to soil.
'Organic human reduction container' means a container in which organic human reduction occurs.
'Organic human reduction facility' means a location where organic human reduction is performed.
'Organically reduced remains' means the resulting residue of a dead human body that has undergone organic human reduction.
Similar to the release of remains after cremation, crematories and other establishments that handle remains would be able to release the composted remains to an authorized person on behalf of the deceased.
Those authorized to receive remains would be members of the dead's family, whether a spouse, child, parent or sibling who is 18 or older and is net of kin to the dead, or a legal guardian, personal representative or public health officer, according to SB 241.
Along with the new regulations for funeral services involving human composting, the bill also sets fines for those who violate the rules, including up to $500 for each violation. The bill also makes it illegal for those operating funeral service businesses to reward people or provide commission for the encouragement of using their services.
For the indigent, the state would also be able to choose organic human reduction or cremation for burial, rather than a typical casket burial, if the family or immediate kin are also indigent or unable to provide funds for the dead's final disposition.
If approved by Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia would be the 13th state in the country to allow it. Should Kemp approve, the bill would take effect July 1.
The first in the United States to allow human composting or mulching for funerals was the State of Washington, in 2019.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kettering Health Cyberattack: Here's what is being done for patients with sensitive info on dark web
Kettering Health has announced that they have resumed normal operations after key services were knocked out by a cyberattack for nearly three weeks. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They say they are working to identify what data was impacted in the cyberattack. 'Our investigation is ongoing, and we will directly notify any impacted individuals,' Kettering Health said in their press release. 'Notifications may include fraud protection resources, such as identity theft or credit monitoring.' >>RELATED: Kettering Health officials acknowledge impacts of cyber attack are 'extremely frustrating' TRENDING STORIES: New evidence raises more questions in search for father accused of killing 3 daughters Brand new aviation video shows man throwing wood at deputies, causing wrong-way crash on I-75 'Long and difficult process,' Pastor speaks on restoration efforts after fire at Catholic church Kettering Health says services such as surgery, imaging, retail pharmacy and physician office visits are back to normal. MyChart, which was restored Monday, is functional for patients. According to an update from the network, patients are now able to view upcoming appointments, schedule appointments, view prescription lists, message their providers and view test results. >>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Kettering Health cyberattack; Hacker group claims responsibility, sensitive info put on dark web Kettering Health says their cyber security and employee security training will 'effectively mitigate future risks.' News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
UGA insect expert says Asian needle ants could be a hidden danger for some
If you've ever had a bad reaction to a bee sting or a wasp sting, there's another threat to watch out for this summer. Channel 2's Lori Wilson spoke to the University of Georgia's leading insect expert about the Asian needle ant and its powerful sting. 'If you suffer from anaphylaxis, you know it. You carry an Epipen around. You probably should know what this ant looks like,' University of Georgia entomologist Dan Suiter said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'For a long time, it's flown under the radar. It's just, I tell folks, it's cryptic. It's kind of a hidden ant. It's an ant. Nobody pays attention to ants,' he said. But at 1/16th of an inch long and shiny black, this ant is one to watch for. Suiter said the stinger can pierce through clothing and has venom that can trigger anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that can cause swelling of the tongue and throat and difficulty breathing. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Asian needle ants crawling across US, now found in 20 states, sting cause life-threatening reaction 'I'm confident that people wind up in the emergency room in distress. They're rescued by the physician for anaphylaxis and never know what happened,' Suiter said. He said they live in small colonies, leaf litter, in dead logs and things of that nature. 'And you'll see them kind of foraging around by themselves. That is odd for an ant. And so anything you pick up off the ground, turn it over before you carry it and look to see, make sure there's not these little black ants crawling around underneath it,' Suiter said. TRENDING STORIES: Raids uncover largest fentanyl pill operation in state history in Atlanta, Douglasville Man charged with posing as nurse, dispensing morphine at Haralson nursing home 'Black Mecca' no longer? Atlanta prices cause families to move out of the city [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Parents are dismayed after FDA rejects experimental drug 4-year-old girl relies on
A family thought they had a life-changing drug for their 4-year-old daughter. Then the FDA rejected it. Channel 2's Michael Doudna heard from the girl's parents. For Hope Filchak, her daily routine includes a daily shot to help provide a normal life. However, soon the drug may go away. 'It's scary to think she might not have this in just a few months,' Caroline Filchak, Hope's mother, said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Hope was born with a rare mitochondrial disease that impacts fewer than 100 people in the world. The impacts are wide-ranging and a challenge to overcome. 'From early on, it was an uphill battle for Hope,' Caroline Filchak said. 'I think she's got 12 specialists that we see in three different states.' 'It affects her brain, her heart, her eyes and her ears, deafness, blindness, and then two heart defects,' Ben Filchak, Hope's father, said. There are no FDA-approved drugs for Hope's condition. So when heart troubles arose in 2024, the family was forced to turn to an experimental drug, elemipretide, and saw immediate improvement. 'Her energy increased, and her heart function has stabilized completely,' Ben Fiilchak said. However, last month, the FDA declined to give it approval. 'I would say that the FDA is trying to regulate two things, right. They're trying to make sure the products are safe, including drugs, but also that they are efficacious for people,' said Rossana Sanchez Russo, an Emory clinical geneticist. According to the parent company producing the drug, the FDA's rejection was in part because the FDA did not see an improvement in a six-minute walk test. 'We all know in the field that a six-minute walk test is not the be-all end-all outcome measure for mitochondrial diseases,' Amy Goldstein, a leading mitochondrial disease expert, said. She says the drug showed improvement in areas such as quality of life and cardiac health. 'I myself personally saved a baby in my cardiac ICU with Barre syndrome. He went home with no cardiac manifestations after arriving here in severe heart failure and needing a heart transplant,' Goldstein said. 'We were extremely disappointed that based on all of the data, they made the decision not to approve the drug.' Another hurdle rare disease drug testing faces is sample size. By its very nature, only a few people have these diseases, so getting a meaningful sample during clinical trials can be difficult. 'Sometimes we don't have enough burden of proof to be able to formally say that. That doesn't mean that it may not be working for a family or that it might not work for other conditions. It may mean that we just do not have all the data,' Sanchez Russo said. The FDA says the company behind the drug can reapply for approval, but it is unclear if it will be successful and how long the company can stay committed to producing a drug without the FDA giving an OK. Hope's family has a four-month supply of the drug left. However, they do not know how much longer access to the medicine will last. 'Hope is a special little girl, and she means so much to our family,' Caroline Filchak said. TRENDING STORIES: Raids uncover largest fentanyl pill operation in state history in Atlanta, Douglasville Hurricane season starts quietly in the Atlantic They were once best friends, then one killed the other. We take you inside this bizarre murder case [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
