B26-0547: Green Death Care Option Amendment Act of 2025 (now known as "Posthumous Care Modernization…

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A BILL 1 2 26-547 3 4 5 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 6 7 __________________ 8 9 10 To amend the District of Columbia Funeral Services Regulatory Act of 1984 to authorize 11 reduction by alkaline hydrolysis at funeral services establishments and to define 12 cremation. 13 14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 15 act may be cited as the “Posthumous Care Modernization Amendment Act of 2026”. 16 Sec. 2. The District of Columbia Funeral Services Regulatory Act of 1984, effective May 17 22, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-84; D.C. Official Code § 3-401 et seq.), is amended as follows: 18 (a) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 3-402) is amended as follows: 19 (1) A new paragraph (1A) is added to read as follows: 20 “(1A) “Alkaline Hydrolysis” means the process of reducing human remains using 21 water, alkaline chemicals, and heat inside a watertight vessel to accelerate decomposition at a 22 funeral services establishment.”. 23 (2) A new paragraph (5A) is added to read as follows: 24 “(5A) “Cremation” means the disposition of a dead human body by means of 25 incineration.”. 26 ENGROSSED ORIGINAL

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(3) Paragraph (11) is amended by striking the phrase “burial, cremation,” and 27 inserting the phrase “burial, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis,” in its place. 28 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 29 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 30 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 31 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 32 Sec. 4. Effective date. 33 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 34 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as 35 provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 36 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-206(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia 37 Register. 38