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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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*hb0677*
HOUSE BILL 677
D1, C2, J2 6lr2081
CF SB 42
By: Delegates Nkongolo, Arentz, Griffith, Odom, Rogers, Schmidt, and Simmons
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 22, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Reduction Facilities and Veterans Service Organizations – Hydrolyzed and Soil 2
Remains – Immunity 3
FOR the purpose of providing that a registered reduction operator is not civilly liable for 4
transferring and a veterans service organization is not civilly liable for receiving 5
unclaimed hydrolyzed or soil remains of a veteran or an eligible d ependent of a 6
veteran for the purposes of disposition if acting in good faith; and generally relating 7
to reduction facilities, veterans service organizations, and the disposition of 8
unclaimed hydrolyzed or soil remains. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Business Regulation 11
Section 5–101(a), (q), and (z) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 16
Section 5–642 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
2 HOUSE BILL 677
Article – Business Regulation 1
5–101. 2
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(q) “Natural organic reduction” means the contained accelerated conversion of 4
human remains into soil. 5
(z) “Registered reduction operator” means an individual registered to operate a 6
reduction facility as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or a permit holder. 7
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 8
5–642. 9
(a) In this section, “veteran” has the meaning stated in § 9 –901 of the State 10
Government Article. 11
(b) A licensed funeral establishment, REGISTERED REDUCTION OPERATOR, or 12
holder of a permit to engage in the business of a crematory who acts in good faith is not 13
civilly liable for transferring the unclaimed [cremated] CREMAINS OR HYDROLYZED OR 14
SOIL remains of a veteran or an el igible dependent of a veteran to a veterans service 15
organization for purposes of disposition as provided in § 5 –803 of the Business Regulation 16
Article and § 7–406 of the Health Occupations Article. 17
(c) A veterans service organization that acts in good fa ith is not civilly liable for 18
receiving the unclaimed [cremated] CREMAINS OR HYDROLYZED OR SOIL remains of a 19
veteran or an eligible dependent of a veteran for purposes of disposition as provided in § 20
5–803 of the Business Regulation Article and § 7–406 of the Health Occupations Article. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 22
October 1, 2026. 23
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.