Delaware House Bill 162

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Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)
Status: Passed on May 16 2024 - 100% progression
Action: 2024-05-16 - Signed by Governor
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [HTML]

House Bill 162 authorizes the process of natural organic reduction to be used in this State. Natural organic reduction is the gentle, respectful process that accelerates the decomposition of human remains to soil. This process uses large vessels to hold human remains together with straw, wood chips, or other natural materials for about 30 days. The human remains and organic materials, mixed together with warm air, are periodically turned and the process eventually results in reduction of the human remains to a soil material that can then be provided to the deceased individual's family. Natural organic reduction is considered a more eco-friendly cremation alternative, forgoing the usage of formaldehyde and the release of carbon dioxide and mercury into the atmosphere. The process also uses 1/8 the energy of cremation.

An Act To Amend Titles 9, 12, 16, 24, And 29 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Human Remains.

Rep. Sean Lynn [D]	Rep. Eric Morrison [D]	Rep. Cyndie Romer [D]	Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker [D]
Sen. Laura Sturgeon [D]	Rep. Paul Baumbach [D]	Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha [D]	Rep. Kerri Harris [D]
Rep. Kendra Johnson [D]	Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown [D]	Rep. DeShanna Neal [D]	Sen. Stephanie Hansen [D]
Sen. Kyra Hoffner [D]	Sen. Marie Pinkney [D]	Sen. Bryan Townsend [D]

2024-03-21 - Senate - Senate Third Reading (Y: 14 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2024-01-23 - House - House Third Reading (Y: 37 N: 2 NV: 1 Abs: 1) [PASS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2024-05-16		Signed by Governor
2024-03-21		Passed By Senate. Votes: 14 YES 7 NO
2024-03-13		Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 5 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits
2024-01-23		Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
2024-01-23		Passed By House. Votes: 37 YES 2 NO 1 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT
2024-01-23		Amendment HA 3 to HS 1 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
2024-01-23		Amendment HA 2 to HS 1 - Stricken in House
2024-01-23		Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Stricken in House
2023-06-28		Amendment HA 3 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2023-06-27		Amendment HA 2 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2023-06-23		Amendment HA 1 to HS 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2023-06-22		was introduced and adopted in lieu of HB 162

Type	Source
Summary	https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=140705
Text	https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=140405&legislationTypeId=1&docTypeId=2&legislationName=HB162
Text	https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=140705&legislationTypeId=6&docTypeId=2&legislationName=HS1forHB162
Text	https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocumentEngrossment?engrossmentId=36113&docTypeId=6
Roll Call	https://legis.delaware.gov/json/RollCall/GetRollCallVoteByRollCallId#55194
Roll Call	https://legis.delaware.gov/json/RollCall/GetRollCallVoteByRollCallId#55361