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A 4085

Requires persons possessing any firearm to hold a firearms safety certificate

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Cunningham

Authorizes natural organic reduction (human composting) as a lawful disposition method, with licensed operators, facility standards, annual registrations, and state oversight.

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Bill Summary · A 4085

Summary — A4085 (now P.L.2025, c.143)

Title: An Act concerning the natural organic reduction of human remains and amending and supplementing P.L.1952, c.340
Primary sponsor: Assemblyman Brian Cunningham

Main purpose

Authorize and regulate “natural organic reduction” (commonly called human composting or controlled supervised decomposition) as a lawful method for disposition of human remains, by adding definitions, licensing, registration, facility standards, and oversight to existing mortuary law.

Key provisions

  • Defines:
    • “Natural organic reduction” / “controlled supervised decomposition” as the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains into a soil‑like product.
    • “Natural organic reduction facility” as a secure structure, room, or space within a registered mortuary or on registered mortuary property devoted to the process.
  • Adds natural organic reduction to the Board of Mortuary Science’s rulemaking authority, enabling the Board to set minimum requirements for facilities, maintenance, and the reduction process.
  • Requires every individual, partnership, or corporation operating or using a natural organic reduction facility to obtain an annual certificate of registration from the State Board of Mortuary Science; the certificate must specify authorized locations and be conspicuously displayed.
  • Requires that natural organic reduction operations be under the immediate, personal supervision of a person licensed as a practitioner of mortuary science or a funeral director (or consistent with prior licensure laws); the operator’s license must be displayed.
  • Requires Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspection and approval of a facility prior to opening, including review of compliance with setback/distance standards from any drinking water well.
  • Allows cemeteries to receive remains after natural organic reduction; the New Jersey Cemetery Board must maintain a list of cemeteries willing and eligible to accept such remains.
  • Requires funeral directors to notify customers, in writing, that placement in a cemetery is an option after natural organic reduction.
  • Prohibits operation of a natural organic reduction facility except in compliance with the statute and regulations.

Who is affected

  • Mortuary businesses and funeral establishments (existing or new) that may add or operate natural organic reduction facilities.
  • Licensed practitioners of mortuary science and funeral directors (supervision and licensing requirements).
  • New Jersey Cemetery Board and cemeteries (to accept and track eligibility to receive reduced remains).
  • Department of Environmental Protection (pre‑opening inspections; setback enforcement).
  • Families/consumers seeking disposition alternatives.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) projects an initial workload increase for the State Board of Mortuary Science, NJ Cemetery Board, and DEP to adopt rules and conduct oversight and inspections.
  • Annual State expenditure and revenue impacts are described as indeterminate. The bill requires annual registration of facilities and a registration fee (OLS notes reference the registration fee equal to that for mortuary operators; several fiscal notes list $25, while one reprint references $700 for existing mortuary registrations). The number of facilities that will register is unknown, thus revenue is indeterminate.
  • Additional indeterminate oversight and enforcement costs are possible if new facilities are established.

Legislative status & timeline (selected)

  • Introduced in Assembly: March 18, 2024.
  • Committee amendments and reports: May 16, 2024; Oct 24, 2024; June 26, 2025.
  • Passed Assembly: Dec 19, 2024 (71-1-1) and again June 30, 2025 (79-1-0) on concurrence.
  • Passed Senate: June 30, 2025 (37-2).
  • Substituted for S3007 (June 30, 2025).
  • Approved/Enacted: Approved as P.L.2025, c.143 (noted 2025‑09‑11).

Related legislation

Companion: S3007 (and S658 in related listings); prior-session bills listed (S573, S7844, S3547, S2291, A7246, A7885, S2442).

Note: The bill integrates natural organic reduction into existing mortuary regulatory frameworks, adds DEP environmental review, and creates new administrative responsibilities for multiple State boards and agencies while expanding disposition options for consumers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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