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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate Bill 2110 establishes licensing and operational rules for human composting and natural organic reduction facilities
Last action · January 26, 2026: Introduced, referred to Natural Resources and Environment. S.J. 140 .Sponsors: Art Staed and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for establishments—commonly known as human composting facilities—under the board of mortuary science. It sets application fees, facility requirements, operational standards, and record-keeping rules for providers offering this method of disposition.
Establishes legal standards and oversight for businesses offering of human remains in Iowa, impacting funeral establishments, mortuary science regulators, and families seeking alternative final disposition methods.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Operators of natural organic reduction establishments
Establishment owners must obtain an annual license, pay fees, maintain extensive operational and tracking records, and provide employee training.
Board of mortuary science
The board is tasked with inspecting facilities, issuing licenses, assessing fees, and adopting administrative rules to implement the chapter.
Funeral establishments
Funeral directors and establishments are responsible for delivering bodies in suitable, leak-resistant containers and handling container transfers when necessary.
Key Facts
- The bill establishes a $425 initial application fee for a natural organic reduction establishment license.
- Establishments must feature a building with one or more aerobic reduction vessels, a motorized mechanical processing device, and a secure, refrigerated holding facility.
- Licenses are valid for one year from July 1 through June 30 and are nontransferrable, with a 50% or more change in ownership automatically terminating the license.
- A late filing fee of $100 is imposed for license renewal applications submitted up to 31 days after the expiration date.
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- Establishments must maintain records of each natural organic reduction performed and retain those records for 10 years following the release of remains.
- Unclaimed naturally organically reduced remains must be handled by giving certified mail notice after 30 days, followed by respectful disposal if unclaimed 120 days after notice.
- Bodies may not be accepted if there is a known dispute regarding the reduction or if the container is leaking or unsuitable.
- The board of mortuary science must perform an initial inspection of a proposed establishment before issuing a license.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is natural organic reduction?
How long must establishment records be kept?
What happens if remains are left unclaimed?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 26, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, referred to Natural Resources and Environment. S.J. 140 .
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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